Robert Mapplethorpe's (1946-1989) place in the canon was earned from his incredible output of images that ranged from beautiful to brutal.
Mapplethorpe boldly showcased the beauty of bodies not often seen in society, much-less elevated to the fine-art realm at that time he was working. His fearless depictions of the body positioned his work in line with masters such as Courbet, Bas Jan Ader and Marina Abramovic. Some of his favorite subjects include a female body-builder, members of the Queer and leather community, people of color, and eventually his own body ravaged by AIDS. Regardless of subject matter, his images are both sensual and cerebral, delicate and menacing. Despite the sometimes shocking content of his work, Mapplethorpe's photographs demonstrate a formalist quality and undeniable beauty and composition.
Mapplethorpe began photographing flowers in 1978, as a way to develop his photography skills without the complication of human subjects. His floral images are presented with reverence and charged with aesthetic dignity...often alluding to the fierce sexuality he was known for. Whether rising out of the edge of the frame, standing open in full bloom, or leaning carefully over, Mapplethorpe's flower portraits are anything but still.
This black and white photograph features a spotted orchid in full bloom, with a stem trailing out of the bottom of the frame. The orchid's upper appendage is striped with elegant wispy lines that follow and emphasize it's tapered, spade-like shape. The flower stands unwavering in the frame, proudly on display.
This particular plant is a slipper orchid, a species characterized by a veiny pouch that hangs down the centre, framed by reaching petals on each side and leathery, strap-like leaves down the stem. These orchids are often brightly coloured, and patterned with spots, stripes, and spiked hairs.
While there is no question this photograph is striking, there is also a certain atmospheric unknown to the image. The bloom is fleeting, destined to wilt and wither. The orchid's sensuality is charged yet controlled, the soft petals posing to blur the boundaries between botany and corporality. In this way, Mapplethorpe's floral portraits are endlessly enticing, holding the attention of viewers through deeply formal and evocative compositions.
Editions of this photograph are in the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland, the SFMOMA, and the TATE Modern. Mapplethorpe's work can be found in major museums globally including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the MET and the MOMA in New York, among many others.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic work by one of the most influential photographers of the 20th Century. Caviar20 is proud to be offering this monumental and important piece.
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"Orchid"
Gelatin silver print on paper
USA, 1987
From an edition of 10
24”H 20”W (sheet)
29.75"H 29.25"W (framed)
Very good condition
