Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) was a German-born biologist, naturalist,
evolutionist, artist, philosopher, and doctor who spent his life
researching flora and fauna from the highest mountaintops to the
deepest ocean. A vociferous supporter and developer of Darwin's
theories of evolution, he denounced religious dogma, authored
philosophical treatises, gained a doctorate in zoology, and coined
scientific terms which have passed into common usage, including
ecology, phylum, and stem cell. At the heart of Haeckel's colossal
legacy was the motivation not only to discover but also to explain.
To do this, he created hundreds of detailed drawings, watercolors,
and sketches of his findings which he published in successive
volumes, including several marine organism collections and the
majestic Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature), which could
serve as the cornerstone of Haeckel's entire life project. Like a
meticulous visual encyclopedia of living things, Haeckel's work was
as remarkable for its graphic precision and meticulous shading as
for its understanding of organic evolution. From bats to the box
jellyfish, lizards to lichen, and spider legs to sea anemones,
Haeckel emphasized the essential symmetries and order of nature,
and found biological beauty in even the most unlikely of creatures.
In this book, we celebrate the scientific, artistic, and
environmental importance of Haeckel's work, with a collection of
300 of his finest prints from several of his most important tomes,
including Die Radiolarien, Monographie der Medusen, Die
Kalkschwamme, and Kunstformen der Natur. At a time when
biodiversity is increasingly threatened by human activities, the
book is at once a visual masterwork, an underwater exploration, and
a vivid reminder of the precious variety of life. About the series
TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists
in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing,
helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art,
anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we
celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our
company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the
stars of our program-now more compact, friendly in price, and still
realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.
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