Botanical & Flowers · horizontal

Spiral Lily in Black and White

A close view of a large lily in black and white, its long pointed petals spreading from the center and curling at the tips. Dark speckles and wavy marks run along the inner petals. Every surface is covered in small swirling curls that look like thick, twisted paint. Round buds and berry-like shapes cluster at the edges against a deep charcoal background.

A collector wants this for the contrast between a realistic lily and a surface that has been turned into a field of small spirals. The flower is bright and sculptural against near-black, and every petal, bud and background shape carries the same thumbprint-like curl. It reads as both a true botanical subject and a graphic, rhythmic pattern, in strict black and white. Most black-and-white flower images are quiet and photographic. This one is tactile, dramatic and a little playful.

Artwork by Omaste Witkowski