A quintessential example of Robert Mapplethorpe’s flower studies, Untitled (Blue Rose) illustrates the artist’s intense attention to the formal qualities of his subjects, whether flowers or the otherwise provocative portraits he was also known for. Despite the photograph's simple composition, Mapplethorpe’s regard for these qualities is ever-present, ultimately producing a beautiful and pristine image in which the single, seemingly insignificant rose is made monumental. This beauty is only enhanced by the artist’s choice to use photogravure, thus adding richness and variety to the black and blue tones that comprise the image.