Strawberry squid, color lithograph
Smithsonian Library, Washington, DC
The world’s oceans, covering one-tenth of Earth’s surface, are the cradle of life, showcasing an astonishing variety of creatures with diverse shapes, colors, and evolutionary traits.
‘Pilchard (Argentina Carolina)’, hand-colored engraving from Mark Catesby
National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Maryland
Marine biologist Helen Scale’s latest book, Ocean Art: From the Coast to the Deep, takes readers through 140 stunning photographs and illustrations of underwater vistas and their diverse inhabitants.
Yashima Gakutei, three crabs on the edge of the water
The Met Museum
The realm of art mirrors the diversity of marine life, and Scale expertly intertwines insights about artists with the wonders of oceanic life, blending marine biology with art history.
Cyphonophore (Forscaliatrod), illustration
Library, Woods Hole, MA
“It’s captivating to view the ocean through the perspectives of artists and craftsmen,” Scale noted. “They brilliantly convey the essence of life beneath the surface.”
Mycenaean stirrup vessel featuring an octopus, circa 1200 to 1100 BC
The Met Museum
Throughout history, culture has shown a deep fascination with marine life. The featured artworks include a lithograph of the Strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteroopsis) from 1851, Catesby’s hand-colored sculpture of the Pilchard (Argentine Carolina) from 1743, a 1830 woodblock print from Japan showing crabs, an 1888 illustration of a siphonophore (Forskalia tholoides), and a Mycenaean jar illustrating an octopus from around 1200 to 1100 BC. Additional ceramic artifacts include lobster-shaped containers from Peru and crabs depicted in Nazca ceramic bowls from the 2nd to 4th centuries.
L: (Peru) “Lobster-shaped Stirrup Vessel”, R: Crab Ceramic Bowl
Left; Walters Art Museum. Right; The Met Museum
Ocean Art is scheduled for release in the UK on August 1st and in the US on September 26th.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
