The Phaidon Folio

10 Vibrant Flowers That Show Mapplethorpe's Mastery of Color

10 Vibrant Flowers That Show Mapplethorpe's Mastery of Color
Detail of Anemone (1989) by Robert Mapplethopre

Robert Mapplethorpe is best known for his subversive black-and-white photography , but these 10 photos from Phaidon’s new compendium Mapplethorpe Flora: The Complete Flowers show the American photographer’s capacity for making visual poetry across the chromatic spectrum.  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 black-and-white imagery here , and purchase the full book here .

1. African Daisy , 1982

African Daisy, 1982

2. Flower , 1983

Flower, 1983

3. Orchid , 1986

Orchid, 1986

4. Calla Lily , 1988

Calla Lily, 1988

5. Irises , 1988

Irises, 1988

6. Poppy , 1988

Poppy, 1988

7. Tulips , 1988

Tulips, 1988

8. Anemone , 1989

Anemone, 1989

9. Mum , 1989

Mum, 1989

10. Rose , 1989

Rose, 1989

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