Naupaka (Back)
2008
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
color photogravure on wove Somerset paper
Dimensions
plate: 41.59 × 41.28 cm (16 3/8 × 16 1/4 in.) sheet: 74.93 × 66.99 cm (29 1/2 × 26 3/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Kathan Brown
Accession Number
2011.119.59
Art Historical Context
**Naupaka (Back)**, a 2008 color photogravure by Susan Middleton captures the intricate beauty of its subject with remarkable precision. Printed on luxurious wove Somerset paper, work measures a modest plate size of 4159 × 41.28 cm within a larger sheet of 74.93 × 66.99 cm. The title evokes the naupaka, a native Hawaiian plant known for its distinctive half-flowers, and "(Back)" suggests an intimate view of its reverse side, highlighting textures and details often overlooked. Photogravure, a venerable intaglio technique blending photography and printmaking, allows for exceptional tonal depth ...