Ernst Haeckel (1834 - 1919) was many things. He was a prominent marine biologist and zoologist and discovered and named thousands of new species. He was also a physician, philosopher, artist, and promoted Charles Darwin's theories in Germany. Unfortunately he was also a eugenicist and promoted scientific racism. Yet another reminder that otherwise impressive people can believe terrible things.
I first learned about him after coming across his stunning illustrations of squids and octopi. These and many other of his artworks were published in his book Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature), which contains 100 beautiful illustrations of sea life.
