Flora: The Secret Language of Plants in Art - Hardcover

by Hope Werness (Author)

A lush exploration of the many ways plants and flowers have inspired art and artists throughout history.

"A visually rich exploration of how humankind perceives and represents the botanical world."―Library Journal

Piet Mondrian's chrysanthemums, Faith Ringgold's sunflowers, Georgia O'Keefe's black iris, Salvador Dalí's narcissus, Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin--these are just a few of the many exemplary pairings featured in Flora that offer a unique, artistic interpretation of a plant's essence. This visually captivating survey from Hope Werness is arranged thematically by the trees, flowers, fruit, vegetables, spices, grasses, grains, and vines that have served as a root for artistic inquiry across time. Flora deepens our understanding of plants through the lens of artistic expression, bringing a new context to an ever-enduring love of nature.

Author Biography

Dr. Hope Werness is an Art Historian specializing in non-Western and modern European art. She has taught for over twenty years at California State University, Stanislaus.