Art and Science of Ernst Haeckel. 40th Anniversary Edition

Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919) was a German-born biologist, naturalist, evolutionist, artist, philosopher, and doctor who researched flora and fauna from the highest mountaintops to the deepest ocean. He was a vocal supporter and developer of Darwin's theories of evolution and coined scientific terms such as ecology, phylum, and stem cell. His work was remarkable for its graphic precision and meticulous shading, and he emphasized the essential symmetries and order of nature. This book celebrates his scientific, artistic, and environmental importance with a collection of 300 of his finest prints from several of his most important tomes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 05 March 2021
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) was a remarkable German-born biologist, naturalist, evolutionist, artist, philosopher, and doctor who dedicated his life to exploring the flora and fauna across the vast expanse of Earth. A passionate advocate and innovator of Darwin's theories of evolution, Haeckel fiercely criticized religious dogma, authored profound philosophical treatises, earned a doctorate in zoology, and coined scientific terms that have become widely used today, including ecology, phylum, and stem cell.

At the core of Haeckel's extraordinary legacy lay a driving force to not only discover but also to explain the natural world. To achieve this, he painstakingly created hundreds of intricate drawings, watercolors, and sketches of his findings, which he published in numerous volumes, including several marine organism collections and the awe-inspiring Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature). These works served as the foundation of Haeckel's lifelong endeavor, akin to a comprehensive visual encyclopedia of living organisms. Haeckel's work was renowned for its remarkable graphic precision and meticulous shading, as well as its profound understanding of organic evolution. From bats to box jellyfish, lizards to lichen, and spider legs to sea anemones, Haeckel emphasized the inherent symmetries and order of nature, unveiling biological beauty in even the most unexpected of creatures.

In this book, we celebrate the scientific, artistic, and environmental significance of Haeckel's work, presenting a collection of 300 of his finest prints from several of his most important tomes, including Die Radiolarien, Monographie der Medusen, Die Kalkschwämme, and Kunstformen der Natur. At a time when biodiversity is increasingly threatened by human activities, this book serves as a visual masterpiece, an underwater exploration, and a poignant reminder of the precious variety of life on our planet. Through Haeckel's meticulous observations and artistic interpretations, we gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate web of life and the profound interconnectedness of all species.

Weight: 1468g
Dimension: 227 x 164 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836584289