Flower X-Rays: In the 1930s, Dain L. Tasker 1872 – 1964, chief radiologist at Los Angeles’ Wilshire Hospital, investigated the anatomy of plants with an X-ray machine. His minamalist flower X-Rays are extraordinary. Color and context and reduced to the simple essence.
Flower X-Rays: Fuschia (1938), vintage gelatin silver print, 9 1:2 x 7 1:4 inches
Photographer Will Connell, a teacher at Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, helped Tasker print his pictures and show his unusual work in photography exhibitions. Tasker’s work appeared in U.S. Camera (October 1939) and Popular Photography (March 1942). And then, well, not much more is known of him.
“Peruvian Daffodil,” 1938, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 1:2 x 9 1:4 inches
Gladiolas, Dr. Dain L. Tasker, Flower X-Rays,Los Angeles
“Philodendron,” 1938, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 3:8 x 9 inches
Dr.-Dain-L.-Tasker-Fleur-de-lis-1936
Tasker-Lotus-An-X-ray-c.-1930s, “Lotus,” ca. 1930, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 1:4 x 9 1:4 inches.
Tasker-X-ray-of-a-Lily-c.-1930s
Dain L. Tasker, Eucalyptus X-ray
Campenula, c.1930
X-Ray of Anthuriums, Dain L. Tasker, Eucalyptus
Wisteria, 1930
“A Rose,” 1936, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 1:4 x 9 1:8 inches
“Yellow Calla Lily,” 1938, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 3:8 x 9 1:4 inches
“untitled, (lily),” 1932, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 1/4 x 9 inches
“Delphinium,” 1938, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 1:4 x 9 1:8 inches
“Tulip,” 1931, vintage gelatin silver print, 9 x 7 inches
“California Holly,” 1937, vintage gelatin silver print, 11 3:8 x 9 1:8 inches
Self-portrait, radiograph, circa 1930s. In this contact print created from X-ray film, you can see the holes created by the film holder. (Dr. Dain L. Tasker)
A selection of Tasker’s X-ray images can be seen in “Floral Studies” at Joseph Bellows Gallery in La Jolla, California.
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