Magnolia Grandiflora

William Seltzer Rice

William Rice was an amateur botanist, often showcasing his favorite flora in prints as well as paintings and drawings. Of the many botanical subjects Rice was especially keen to capture, varieties of heady, sturdy tree blossoms seem to have drawn him in the most, among them the elegant Magnolia Grandiflora. Native to the American South, it can be found in many regions where rain is plentiful, including the Pacific Northwest and Japan.

This drypoint detailing one such specimen is almost deceptively simple in its execution. For an artist known especially for his color woodcuts and watercolors, his work in monochrome is equally powerful. Here, Rice uses sandpaper aqautint to create a rich black field of ink against which the creamy petals of a magnolia blossom unfurl. Rice’s ability to capture its grace and grandeur makes it immediately recognizable, inviting the viewer to imagine they can detect its summery perfume.