Many artists have created botanical studies for hundreds of years, using a wide variety of different mediums including photography. From the earliest days of photography and artists such as Fox Talbot, Anna Atkins and Karl Blossfeldt in the 1920s, right up to Robert Mapplethorpe and Irving Penn, each one of them created their own distinctive style in portraying the beauty of the plant or flower.

Virginia Wolff observed that until we can comprehend the beguiling beauty of a single flower, we are woefully unable to grasp the meaning and potential of life itself.

Ron Van Dongen brings a new and fresh contemporary approach to botanical illustration. His wonderfully clear high-key prints are much sought after and his brooding dark flower portraits offer us an illuminated insight into the often strange but always wonderful natural forms that exist in nature.

Working in a traditional manner by growing almost all of the plants and flowers he photographs, Van Dongen works at home in California in his daylight studio, focusing on the essence of the particular plant. Whilst detail is always present, Van Dongen always manages to achieve an ‘aura’ which lifts the image beyond the simple photograph. Each and every print is hand-made by Van Dongen to exacting standards and it is here as well as in the darkroom where the magic occurs.

The Michael Hoppen Gallery is proud to present a new body of work created by this master photographer and print maker. We offer the botanical enthusiast a unique opportunity to view and purchase master prints by Ron Van Dongen.