Plants, Animals, and the Man Who Inspired Art Nouveau

As a university student, Haeckel became fascinated by the smallest elements of the natural world after observing creatures in the North Sea on a summer field trip. Much of his early research centered on radiolaria, single-celled organisms. As a professor of zoology—the study of animals—Haeckel championed Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Haeckel seamlessly incorporated his artistic skills into his scientific research. He observed plants and animals in the wild and under the microscope, then represented what he saw in drawings, watercolors, sketches, and prints. Haeckel showed organisms in three dimensions, a technique rarely used by scientists at the time. Other scientists criticized Haeckel for his aesthetic approach, but he believed that showing the beauty of his discoveries was crucial to attracting people’s interest. His drawings still appear in some textbooks today.

Haeckel’s 1904 book Art Forms in Nature, featuring 100 of his sketches and watercolors, influenced the Art Nouveau movement. As artists aimed to bring nature into daily life, they turned to Haeckel’s images for inspiration. Analyze the examples shown here. Which elements of art or principles of design commonly used in Art Nouveau do you see?