Ernst Haeckel & The Huge Impact of Microscopic Worlds

Haeckel was a famous 19th-century scientist, artist and philosopher. Through his passion for discovery, he found a calling in naturalist study. It inspired him to produce thousands of intricate drawings and illustrate his findings. The legacy of his scientific achievements, philosophic thought and artwork still captivate us to this day.

Get a glimpse into his most notable works. They reveal the journey of this unique historical figure and the beautiful discoveries that came with it. Intricate drawings of radiolarians were some of his first works. Most of them were microorganisms he had identified himself, described and drawn through years of research.

The scientist compiled them into a monograph, and its success advanced him into a lifelong career as a researcher. He continued the production of such illustrations, expanding into other species and some 100 of them ended up in his most famous book series, Kunstformen der Natur (“Art Forms in Nature”).

The dichotomy between art and science in modern times is familiar, but it wasn’t in the 19th century. Back then, true intellectuals were proficient in many subjects. Haeckel didn’t see the two realms as contradictory either and reconciled them with confidence that’s rare to find today. He wanted to explore the connections of the scientific study of nature to its inner beauty.

At the time, lithographs were the most advanced visual aids for scientific findings. They served as eye-catchers, crucial to attracting the interest of other literates. Haeckel’s creativity and dedication to popularise evolution concepts pushed him to utilise them. He wanted others to understand his work, but many of his findings were under the microscope, impossible to showcase. Illustration became the perfect medium for this aspiration.

Introducing Darwin’s theories was another critical moment in Haeckel’s career. He did his best to popularise them and provided the drive he needed to dive into his research with new rigour. The zoologist travelled to many remote regions, studied exotic habitats, and related it to Darwin’s theories. Because of it, Haeckel became known as “the German Darwin”.

Haeckel’s Art Nouveau Influence

Clockwise from left; The profound visual impact of Haeckel’s work can be seen in the work of famed Art Nouveau artists such as Maurice Pilliard Verneuil and Alphonse Mucha.

Reverie

Alphonse Mucha MCH006

Ascomycetes

Ernst Haeckel

EH076

Fishes & Pigeons

Maurice Pulliard Verneuil DEC002

Coral Reef Forest

Ersnt Haeckel SEA029

While researching, travelling and writing books, he completed other fascinating monographs with stunning pictures of microbes. Unsurprisingly, part of his success is attributed to his art. The illustrations he shared amazed Darwin, and they became close acquaintances. Haeckel exchanged dozens of letters with his superior, although he diverged from Darwin’s ideas in later years.

At its core, Haeckel’s art reveals his aesthetic aspirations. An era of enlightenment and romanticism with thinkers like Humboldt and Goethe influenced his search for order and beauty. Haeckel found it in nature, in the mesmerising geometry of organisms, and his need to capture it sometimes overshadowed scientific ideals.

That’s why he exaggerated some of his drawings for visual impact. He emphasised the arrangement of his illustrations to promote patterns and symmetry. As an artist, he focused on the forms of organisms rather than the accuracy of their scales or habitats.

Because of this, many have compared Haeckel’s works to psychedelic arts. Both contain contrasting colours, otherworldly forms and extreme stylisation. Could these coincidental parallels have an actual link? Historians would say ‘no’, but Haeckel spent his days looking at the world through a microscope.

At times, in the harsh conditions of foreign climates, he drew his findings in painstaking detail. The required concentration could have made it something akin to a psychedelic experience. Or it could be that humans across time have similar experiences while dealing with the microcosm.

Haeckel had no idea what significant future impact his collections would have. He didn’t mean for it to become artwork shared across the globe. His microbe depictions, published in “Art Forms in Nature”, inspired dozens of artists and architects. As it coincided with the rise of Art Nouveau and the surrealist movements, its followers sought to rediscover and embrace natural forms. Haeckel’s designs touched the works of many painters, such as Max Ernst, Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee.

Today, Ernst Haeckel’s art continues to mesmerise those who discover it. Haeckel’s wish has come true. He provided a window to the enchanting micro world unseen to the naked eye, and we understood it.