AN EXHIBITION in Basingstoke is set to showcase an original portfolio of 40 photos from 1932.

The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery will host 'Karl Blossfeldt: Art Forms in Nature', from May 9 to July 28.

Originating from the Southbank Centre's Hayward Gallery, the presentation boasts a collection of Karl Blossfeldt's close-up images of plants, entitled ‘Wundergarten der Natur’.

Mr Blossfeldt, largely considered one of the defining photographers of the 20th century, was known for his contribution to the art through his intricate botanical photographs.

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His career, spanning over 30 years, produced a catalogue of more than 6,000 photographs.

Mr Blossfeldt had developed his own cameras and lenses that allowed him to magnify subjects up to 30 times.

This method showed the microcosmic aesthetic of the specimens and unveiled nature’s underlying structures that were largely unexplored.

Originally a sculptor, Mr Blossfeldt's love for botany stirred his interest in natural forms that showcased a sculptural quality.

Encouraged to publish his image collection in 1928, initially used only for teaching and sculptural practice, he compiled the photos under the title Urformen der Kunst (Artforms in Nature).

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This publication surged to popularity, receiving praises from philosophers Walter Benjamin, George Bataille, artist Maholy-Nagy, and from a host of early modernists and Surrealists during the late 1920s for its photographic technicality and objectively capturing an "unknown universe".

Entry to the exhibition is free for everyone, although donations will be appreciated.

More information can be found on the Hampshire Cultural Trust website.