“Civilisation and the life of nations are governed by the same laws as prevail throughout nature and organic life.” *

As you have probably guessed by now, people who are attempting to cross the boundaries between science and art impress me greatly.

Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) was one of them. Although not many people recognise his name nowdays, he was the most influential evolutionary theorist of his era; he discovered, described and named thousands of new species, mapped a genealogical tree relating all life forms, and coined many terms in biology, including ecology, phylogeny, stem cell, and the kingdom Protista.

Moreover he is responsible for the prints of the Art Forms of Nature (Kunstformen der Natur), translated from sketch to print by lithographer Adolf Giltsc.  Originally published in sets of ten between 1899 and 1904, it consists of 100 prints of various organisms, many of which were first described by Haeckel himself, and enjoyed a very broad audience at its time. 

In his prints Haeckel has attempted to portray nature as an art form in itself focused on its symmetry and organisation. Many artists of the 21st century have been influenced by Art Forms' prints; from  from Alexis Rockman and Philip Taaffe, who have borrowed from Haeckel's prints directly; to Alex Ross, Karen Arm, and Tricia Keightley.

A contemporary artist directly influenced by Haeckel's prints is Rogan Brown. He creates paper sculptures re-presenting both mineral and vegetal natural organic forms. His work looks very complex and intricate and very delicate at the same time.

Cut Pod, 2013 Handcut Paper

Kernel, 2013, Hand cut paper

Spore, 2013, Handcut paper sculpture

 * Quote by Ernst Haeckel


For further reading on the influence of Haeckel's prints on 21st century artists read:
David Brody, "Ernst Haeckel and the Microbial Baroque" http://cabinetmagazine.org/issues/7/ernsthaeckel.php