Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe was an influential German poet, scientist and philosopher. In 1790 he wrote The Metamorphosis of Plants which he described in a letter to a friend as the ‘truth about the how of an organism’. Goethe went on to write the long poem version where he likens the spirit of a plant to that of human love as he talks of
‘Gather’d in countless array, there where the altar is raised.
Hymen hovereth o’er them , and scents delicious and mighty.
Extracts from Goethe’s poem were selected and combined with extracts from An Ode to Nature written by Georg Christoph Tobler in 1782. It seems that Tobler wrote his poem after spending time with Goethe discussing the Metamorphosis of Plants together
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The resulting poem (see below) entitled Rhapsody with Nature is a unique mixture of both Goethe’s and Tobler’s poetry to support the Plants as ink ACE project Making & Understanding the Colour of Plants and their Impact.
The words from this poem interweave the Fine art short film called Rhapsody with Nature created by the artist Susan Brisco.
Film: Rhapsody with Nature
Film duration 5 mins
Film stills
Rhapsody with nature
She brings forth ever new forms
All is new yet forever old
We live within her and yet are strangers to her
yet does not betray her secret
We work on her constantly,
and yet have no power over her
She is the sole artist
creating extreme contrast out of the simple hues
The greatest perfection seemingly without effort
Each of her works has her own being
and yet all create a single whole
never a moments pause
no name for respite
Each of her phenomena its separate idea
Presently parcell’d
Clarity always veiled with a touch of softness
Gather’d in countless array
We may force no explanation from her
Scents delicious and mighty
Stream forth their fragrance
She transforms herself constantly
The chain prolonged forever thro’ all generations
Turn thy gaze on the many hued thousands
Camelia
Daffodil
Nettle
Gorse
Rose yellow
Dandelion
She is whole and yet always unfinished …
Extracts from
The Metamorphosis of Plants, J.W. von Goethe, 1790
An Ode to Nature, G.C. Tobler, 1782
