The Botanical Prints
Furthering the aims of the Open Orchard and Tree of 40 Fruit projects, The Botanical Prints aim to preserve biodiversity through a series of hand pulled etching an accompanying hand set letterpress descriptions. Created and presented in the same manner as the historical botanical prints of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth century, The Botanical Prints are offered as a yearly portfolio where you will receive 12 etching and 12 letterpress descriptions. Designed around the calendar year, each print focuses on a threatened fruit variety, made nearly extinct through the industrialization of agriculture and the rise of monocultures.
Each copper plate etching is printed using the “Dutch Mordant” etching technique notably employed by Rembrandt van Rijn and later by botanists in the Eighteenth century to capture the ephemeral nature of fruit trees through intricate line work. The accompanying letterpress description, depicts the phenomena, habit, the nature of both tree and fruit as well as providing a provenance to the fruit from a time when there was a particular fashion, discourse, and metaphysical discussion surrounding these fruit. Printed on a traditional, archival, laid paper each etching and contiguous description measures 12 7/8” x 14 ¼” with a plate impression of 8 7/8” x 10 ¼”.
Taking a contemporary approach to rendering these fruit, the etchings within The Botanical Prints combine hand rendered imagery with computer controlled engraving techniques to layer historical images of the fruit with their various moments and appearances in their progression from blossom to ripening.
There are a limited edition of 30 yearly portfolios of The Botanical Prints. Each custom handmade portfolio includes a total of 24 limited edition unframed prints including 12 etchings and 12 letterpress descriptions.
Master Printer: Samantha Rossi
In addition to the portfolios, there are a total of 10 individual hand colored artist proofs and accompanying descriptions for each of the varieties below.
The Botanical Prints aim to preserve and perpetuate these fruit varieties so intertwined with our own history and essential to biodiversity.
To participate, email vanakenstudio@gmail.com.