Can a biologist's obsession with symmetry redefine the boundaries between science and art?

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Ernst Haeckel’s Kunstformen der Natur transformed biological classification into a visual masterpiece. By capturing the intricate geometry of microorganisms and marine life, Haeckel bridged the gap between scientific observation and aesthetic wonder, leaving an indelible mark on the Art Nouveau movement and the history of modern design.

Published in sets between 1899 and 1904, Ernst Haeckel’s Kunstformen der Natur—or Art Forms in Nature—is far more than a scientific record. It is a curated collection of 100 lithographic and halftone prints that serve as a summation of Haeckel’s worldview. While Haeckel was a biologist who described many of the organisms himself, he relied on the technical skill of lithographer Adolf Giltsch to translate his sketches and watercolors into the final, striking plates that define the work.

The core of the book is defined by a fascination with symmetry and organizational complexity. From the spiral shells of ammonites to the delicate, radial patterns of radiolarians and the flowing tentacles of jellyfish, Haeckel selected subjects that embodied perfect order. One poignant example is the inclusion of the jellyfish Cyanea annasethe, which Haeckel named after his late wife, Anna Sethe; he famously noted that its flowing tentacles reminded him of her hair. These images were arranged for maximum visual impact, turning microscopic life into high art.

The influence of these plates extended far beyond biology, deeply impacting early 20th-century architecture and design. Artists associated with Art Nouveau, such as René Binet, Karl Blossfeldt, and Émile Gallé, drew direct inspiration from Haeckel’s geometric precision. The Amsterdam Commodities Exchange, designed by Hendrik Petrus Berlage, stands as a prominent architectural testament to this influence. Even as a second, abbreviated edition of 30 plates was released in 1914—and later reissued in 1924—the original collection remains a foundational bridge between the rigors of natural history and the creative imagination.

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