| Method | Nature printing |
| Artist | Constantin Freiherr Von Ettingshausen and Alois Pokorny. |
| Published | Alois Auer, Imperial Printing House, Vienna: c. 1855-56, Verlag von F. Tempsky, 1873 |
| Dimensions | Image 390 x 280 mm vignette, Plate 415 x 282 mm, Sheet 540 x 360 mm |
| Notes |
A 'Nature Printed' Aposeris Foetida in brown ink, from Constantin Freiherr Von Ettingshausen's Physiotypia plantarum austriacarum [Physiotypes of Austrian Plants, Nature-pressed]. In the quest to produce detailed representations of botanical specimens, Austrian botanist Constantin Freiherr Von Ettingshausen employed the method of Nature Printing as invented by printer, inventor, and director of the Austrian State Printing House, Alois Auer and published in Auer's The Discovery of the Natural Printing Process: an Invention ... Vienna, 1853. Auer oversaw the printing of Von Ettingshausen's book. Nature printing was first developed in the 18th century. Direct impressions were taken from plants, rock, and animals, the specimens inked and printed onto paper. There is some debate as to who invented the process with some crediting Benjamin Franklin and others crediting Philadelphia naturalist Joseph Breintnall both of whom took direct printed impressions of leaves. Both gentlemen sent each other nature printed specimens, hence the debate over who invented the process. Auer further developed Nature Printing in the 1850's by inviting a method involving electrotype. His method involved a specimen being rolled between two metal sheets, one of steel and one of lead, under intense pressure leaving a highly detailed impression. While the lead impression could be used to make a print the soft nature of the lead only allowed for a few good impressions to be taken. Auer then created wax moulds from the lead impressions, coated them in graphite powder, and made a copper plate through the electrotype process - a wet chemical bath of electrolyte solution with an electric current running through it. Whilst these prints are Victorian, their sparse compositions of plants are evocative of later work by early 20th century photographers such as Man Ray, especially his photograms or "rayographs". Constantin Freiherr Von Ettingshausen (June 16, 1826 - February 1, 1897) was an Austrian botanist, mineralogist, and palaeontologist who published 24 books using the nature printing process. Alois Auer (1813- June 11, 1869) was an Austrian printer, inventor, and director of the Austrian State Printing House. Auer made made many advances to the printing technology and published the first work on nature printing in 1853. Cf. Fischer 69; cf. Hunt Printmaking in the Service of Botany (1986) 60; cf. Nissen BBI 613; cf. Pritzel 2756; cf. Stafleu & Cowan TL2 1723. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £250.00 |
| Stock ID | 48032 |