Robert Mapplethorpe’s photographs of flowers are well known and recognizable for their delicate yet erotic beauty. Amid monochrome backgrounds and simple geometries, strong lines, curved or outstretched, are portrayed in a delicate manner. The flowers were placed in vases and bowls—often drawn from the artist’s collection—that reveal a deep appreciation for design, reflecting the confident eye and regard for classical form exemplified by his photographic work.

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation