Magnolia Blossom
192520th Century
14 in. x 11 in. (35.56 cm x 27.94 cm)
Imogen Cunningham, American, (1883–1976)
Object Type:
Photography and Video
Creation Place:
North America, United States, California
Medium and Support:
Gelatin silver print
Credit Line:
Gift of Alice Harwood, class of 1924
Accession Number:
1986.26.11
Imogen Cunningham was an American photographer known for her botanical photography, nudes, and industrial landscapes. Cunningham was a member of the California-based Group f/64, known for its dedication to the sharp-focus rendition of simple subjects. During the 1920s and 1930s, Cunningham served as the Mills College campus photographer and was married to Roi Partridge, the first director of Mills College Art Museum.
Magnolia Blossom is perhaps Cunningham’s most well-known botanical image. The closely cropped flower fills the entire frame. The pistils and stamens are in sharp focus and the petals become a transfixing study of light, shadow, and translucence. It is an unsentimental and, for its time, entirely new approach to familiar and easily-romanticized subject matter.
Magnolia Blossom is perhaps Cunningham’s most well-known botanical image. The closely cropped flower fills the entire frame. The pistils and stamens are in sharp focus and the petals become a transfixing study of light, shadow, and translucence. It is an unsentimental and, for its time, entirely new approach to familiar and easily-romanticized subject matter.
Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:
- California Photography: Selections from the Permanent Collection at Mills Mills College Art Museum , 11/5/1998 - 12/23/1998
- A Portrait of Mills: Photographs by Imogen Cunningham Mills College Art Museum , 1/17/2006 - 3/12/2006
- In Focus: Group f/64 and the Bay Area Mills College Art Museum , 12/2/2015 - 5/29/2016
- Shifting Terrains Mills College Art Museum , 9/10/2022 - 2/18/2023
Dimensions
- Image Dimensions: 12 1/4 in. x 9 in. (31.12 cm x 22.86 cm)
- Mat Dimensions: 24 in. x 20 in. (60.96 cm x 50.8 cm)
- Sheet Dimensions: 14 x 11 in. (355.6 x 279.4 mm)
Bibliography List
This object has the following bibliographic references:
- Stephanie Hanor, ed. In Focus: Group f/64 and the Bay Area . In Focus: Group f/64 and the Bay Area Mills College Art Museum. Oakland, CA, 2016
Portfolio List
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