Bee Orchids

John Nash 1893 - 1977

Summary

Framed against a plain black background are the leaves, flowers and buds of an orchid. The print does not depict the whole plant as the lower half of the plant is cut out of the frame. The leaves of the orchid are denser on the right hand side where a few shoots and broader leaves run vertically along the right hand edge. The flowers are all within the left three-quarters of the composition and there are three open flowers and six closed buds. Only one flower is seen completely straight on and that flower is positioned in the left hand side at the mid point of the print. The depiction of the leaves remains quite simple with little shading and clean, sharp lines which balances the detail of the flowers. The complex inner petals of the orchid are depicted in quite a stylised manner, again with little tonal gradation.