The Butcher’s Broom
This is the first withered plant I picked up in Figueira da Foz, on my first walk in the hills close to where I stayed in May 2026. It is a Ruscus aculeatus, also known as butcher’s broom. The name comes from its stiff, flat branches, which were once used to make brooms for cleaning butchers’ blocks.
When it withers it stays stiff and turns an almost bright white, which I found very appealing. It looks strong, not fragile, even though some parts are already in a late stage of decay. Some of the “leaves” (they are actually flattened branches) are down to their skeleton. This mix of strength and decay is what draws me to withered plants.
I photographed it in a small shed, which I had cleared out and turned into my outdoor studio, with a working station, a collecting station and a display of my collected plants in old wine bottles.
That winter, a few months before I arrived, a big storm had torn the roofs off many houses in the area, including the one on this property. The shed had no roof left. The volunteers who housesat over the winter rebuilt it by hand, but many roof tiles were broken, so part of the shed’s roof stayed unfinished. Throug this exact gap light falls through onto the back wall, which gives the studio a mystic, fairytale feel – a perfect spot for photographing.
I placed the branch in that light. And through photographing a deep contrast emerged creating an almost black background making the white plant stand out strongly.
I want you to be able to explore this plant and enjoy its beauty: the stiff structure, the white colour, and the parts that are only skeleton now.
Butcher’s Broom is part of the Figueira da Foz Collection. I name my collections after the places I’ve travelled. Each artwork of this collection is like an entry of my personal diary. Each one is associated with experiences, stories, and the feelings in those moments.
Product details
Fine Art Print: Unframed
- Paper: Enhanced Matte Art (EMA) fine art paper, 200 gsm
- Finish: smooth, matte surface with a natural white tone
- Printing: professional Giclée printing
- Sizes: 6 × 9″ (15.2 × 22.9 cm), 12 × 16″ (30.5 × 40.6 cm), 20 × 28″ (50.8 × 71.1 cm), 28 × 40″ (71.1 × 101.6 cm)
- Artwork proportions: 2:3. The 12 × 16″, 20 × 28″ and 28 × 40″ sizes have a 2″ (5 cm) white border around the artwork. The 6 × 9″ size has a slim 0.8 cm white border, so the visible artwork is slightly smaller than the paper size.
- The 6 × 9″ size is available unframed only.
- Edition: open edition
- Presentation: supplied unframed, ready for you to frame to your taste
The matte surface helps minimise reflections while preserving detail, tonal depth and the character of the original photograph.
Fine Art Print: Framed & Mounted
- Print: Enhanced Matte Art (EMA) fine art paper, 200 gsm, Giclée printed
- Frame: black, made from sustainably sourced wood
- Mount: snow white, 2.4 mm conservation-grade mountboard, 2″ (5 cm) around the artwork
- Glazing: durable acrylic (Perspex)
- Sizes: 12 × 16″ (30.5 × 40.6 cm), 20 × 28″ (50.8 × 71.1 cm), 28 × 40″ (71.1 × 101.6 cm)
- Artwork proportions: 2:3. The product size includes the mount, so the visible artwork is smaller than the frame size (see the size guide).
- Edition: open edition
- Presentation: delivered ready to hang
The mounted format gives the photograph a clean, gallery-style presentation, while the black frame provides a finished and refined look for contemporary interiors.
Note: The frame itself adds roughly 2 cm on each side, so the framed pieces are slightly larger overall than the sizes shown.
Made to Order
Your artwork is produced to order rather than held as mass-produced stock, so each piece is prepared specifically for your purchase. Because production is handled by a professional print partner, production and delivery times vary depending on your destination and the fulfilment location. Colours may vary slightly between screen and print.
Size guide
The artwork itself always has a 2:3 proportion. On most sizes it is surrounded by a white border (unframed) or a white mount (framed), so the product size is larger than the artwork. The smallest size, 6 × 9″, has a slim 0.8 cm border included in its paper size.
Unframed prints
| Product size | Size in cm | Artwork size | Artwork in cm | Border |
| 6 × 9″ | 15.2 × 22.9 | approx. 5.4 × 8.4″ | approx. 13.6 × 21.3 | 0.8 cm |
| 12 × 16″ | 30.5 × 40.6 | 8 × 12″ | 20.3 × 30.5 | 2″ (5 cm) |
| 20 × 28″ | 50.8 × 71.1 | 16 × 24″ | 40.6 × 61.0 | 2″ (5 cm) |
| 28 × 40″ | 71.1 × 101.6 | 24 × 36″ | 61.0 × 91.4 | 2″ (5 cm) |
Framed & mounted prints (black frame, white mount)
| Frame size | Size in cm | Artwork size | Artwork in cm | Mount |
| 12 × 16″ | 30.5 × 40.6 | 8 × 12″ | 20.3 × 30.5 | 2″ (5 cm) |
| 20 × 28″ | 50.8 × 71.1 | 16 × 24″ | 40.6 × 61.0 | 2″ (5 cm) |
| 28 × 40″ | 71.1 × 101.6 | 24 × 36″ | 61.0 × 91.4 | 2″ (5 cm) |
All dimensions are approximate. The frame size refers to the glazed area and does not include the width of the frame itself.
Not sure which size suits your space?
- 12 × 16″ works well on a shelf or a small wall,
- 20 × 28″ is ideal above a sofa or desk,
- and 28 × 40″ makes a statement piece for a larger wall.
Shipping & taxes
I ship worldwide. Your print is produced by a professional print partner near your region where possible, and the estimated delivery time is shown at checkout.
Prices include VAT for orders within the EU. Orders shipped outside the EU are not charged EU VAT. Import duties, taxes and customs or carrier handling fees may apply in the destination country and are the responsibility of the recipient.
Packaging
Unframed prints are carefully rolled in tissue paper and shipped in a sturdy cardboard tube. Framed prints are wrapped with protective corner guards and board over the print surface, then sent in a heavy-duty box (larger sizes are also bubble-wrapped). Everything is packed to arrive safely and ready to enjoy.
Returns & reproduction
Every print is made to order especially for you, so I am unable to accept returns or exchanges for change of mind or choice of size. Please check the sizes and dimensions carefully before ordering. If you are in doubt, always contact me via mail at art@laurakoppelmann.com before finalising your order!
If your print arrives damaged, defective or misprinted, I will gladly arrange a free reprint or a refund. Please contact me within 30 days of delivery with your order number and clear photos of the print and the packaging, and keep the packaging until the matter is resolved.
If your order has not arrived within the estimated delivery window, get in touch and I will look into it with my print partner. Please double-check your shipping address at checkout, as I cannot cover orders returned due to an incorrect or incomplete address.
Minor differences in colour between screen and print are natural and are not considered a defect.
