urformen der kunst

Urformen der Kunst (Art Forms in Nature) is a seminal work by German photographer Karl Blossfeldt. Published in 1928/1929, it features close-up photographs of various plant parts—such as twig ends, seed pods, and leaf buds—revealing the abstract shapes and structures inherent in nature. The book was an international bestseller and is considered a key influence on the 'typologies' school of photography. This specific second edition was published by Ernst Wasmuth A.G. in Berlin and features 120 photogravure plates, often bound in gilt-stamped green cloth with gold lettering.