Idea Entry: Nature Printing

Quotes:

“Very few books were actually printed by this method during the nineteenth century, with Henry Bradbury continuing to be the leading proponent. The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, published in 1857 and The Nature-printed British Sea-weeds, published 1859-60 are the primary examples of the process. Both books are scientific in approach and include engraved diagrams in addition to the nature printing. The process was ideal for showing the thin two-dimensional fronds of ferns and seaweed, but less successful with more fleshy plants. Bradbury's death in 1860, at the age of twenty-nine, seeded to end major interest in the process. 

Also referred to as "nature printing" was a different process used specifically for making impressions of butterfly wings. In 1731, The Art of Drawing described a process for sandwiching butterfly wings between two pieces of paper and, by exerting pressure through a press, producing the colored image of the wings. Similar methods were employed at the end of the nineteenth century. The most successful was As Nature Shows Them: Moths and Butterflies of the United States, published in Boston in 1900 by Sherman F. Denton..”

"Color Printing: Nature Printing." University of Delaware, 21 Dec 2010. Web. 5 Oct 2011. <http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/color/natures.htm>.

“The origins of nature printing are lost in time. The earliest prints – faded impressions and silhouettes of hands associated with prehistoric cave paintings – stand in silent testimony to the dawn of man’s creative drives. A variety of techniques have evolved independently in many parts of the world. All are variations of two basic methods. In the indirect method pigment is dabbed or rubbed onto a piece of wet paper or cloth that has been molded over the surface of the object to be printed. In the direct method ink is brushed or rolled directly onto the surface of the subject. A print is obtained by placing a piece of paper or cloth over the subject and rubbing to transfer the images.”

Huffman, Sharron. "Capsule History of Nature Printing." Nature Printing Society. Nature Printing Society. Web. 5 Oct 2011. <http://www.natureprintingsociety.info/nprint.htm>.

Bibliography:

"Color Printing: Nature Printing." University of Delaware, 21 Dec 2010. Web. 5 Oct 2011. <http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/color/natures.htm>.

In 1853, Alois Auer designed the process now known as “nature printing”. Using wood softened by steam and various types of metal, he successfully made a mold from a plant. Since dried plant material was too fragile to withstand the printing process, it was important to create an alternative method. His process involved “passing the object to be reproduced between a steel plate and a lead plate, through two rollers closely screwed together. The high pressure imbed the object – for example a leaf – into the lead plate” (Color 1). If colored ink is used with this plate, a copy can be easily produced. Henry Bradbury discovered this method of preservation of plant material and brought the process to England. He is known in particular for his nature printing books titled “The Ferns of Great Britain” and “The Nature-printed British Seaweeds”. This art form has been extended to butterfly wings and insect preservation. Sherman Foote Denton engraved and colored bodies of insects by hand, but the wings in each image are the actual insect’s wings pressed to paper.

Summary:

When I was looking through the blog “i heart photograph”, I found an excerpt from Henry Bradbury’s “The Nature-printed British Seaweeds” and found its antiquated, scientific look interesting. From time to time, I have preserved plants that I have found through a drying process. I usually put them between two thin pieces of tissue paper and place them in the middle of a heavy book. The result is a fragile, discolored version of the original. When I was looking through images of nature printing, I was surprised by the vivid color palette. I think that this method could be the most genuine way of preserving plants. Often I find myself wanting to take a souvenir from a nature trip that photography doesn’t seem to completely satisfy. I’m curious to see what role nature printing could play in my recent photography of the James. It may be able to provide a more tangible/3D/real(?) facet of my trip.  

Photographs:

 

*all images from Henry Bradbury’s “The Nature-printed British Seaweeds”*