The printmaking technique of "nature printing" dates back to the 13th century. The process, which uses the surfaces of natural objects to make prints of the actual objects, is how early books of medicinal plants were compiled. Through the centuries, nature printing evolved into a scientific process favored by botanists and biologists to reproduce plants and assemble catalogues of flora and fauna. Impressions of Nature, written and compiled by author and printing history expert Roderick Cave, serves as the most comprehensive examination of nature printing to date, featuring hundreds of examples from Europe, Tahiti, Australia and North America.
Along with more than 200 luscious full-color reproductions of nature prints, Cave documents the process from its origins through the 20th century, linking the technique's evolution to major historical and technological developments, from the European discovery of the New World to the invention of the printing press and the advent of photography.
"There are several different processes of nature printing that may be used, varying from the simplest that a young child can carry out to others which demand both complex and extensive equipment, and expertise from the practitioner," says Cave. "When this expertise is present, the results can be almost magical, as if the leaf or flower itself were lying on the page."
Impressions of Nature is sure to impress readers of varied interests, from botanists and historians to graphic designers and tattoo artists, all of whom will marvel at the intricate details of this long-standing art form.
