The Phaidon Folio

10 Black-and-White Flowers by Mapplethorpe That Will Seduce You

10 Black-and-White Flowers by Mapplethorpe That Will Seduce You
Detail of Orchid (1977) by Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe is generally associated with his controversial and homoerotic photography, documents of New York’s gritty underbelly during the 1970s and ‘80s. Here, however, are ten images from Phaidon’s new compendium Mapplethorpe Flora: The Complete Flowers that show the American photographer bringing his skill with light and shadow to bear on another favorite subject: flowers. If you’re hungry for more of Mapplethorpe’s floral works, read a piece of Herbert Muschamp’s introduction to the book here , check out some of his color imagery here , and purchase the full book here .

1. Orchid , 1977

Orchid, 1977

2. Flower , 1980

Flower, 1980

3. Flower Arrangement , 1980

Flower Arrangement, 1980

4. Bird of Paradise , 1981

Bird of Paradise, 1981

5. Flower , 1983

Flower, 1983

6. Flowers , 1983

Flowers, 1983

7. Iris and Zinnia , 1984

Iris and Zinnia, 1984

8. Rose with Smoke , 1985

Rose with Smoke, 1985

9. Tulip , 1985

Tulip, 1985

10. Calla Lily , 1988

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Calla Lily, 1988

Click here to learn more about our Mapplethorpe: Flora gift set.

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