Eric Himmel's 'The Art of Biodiversity' Explores Scientific Illustration from 1700-1900

Eric Himmel, former editor-in-chief of Abrams (2002–2019), has authored and designed 'The Art of Biodiversity,' a publication examining scientific illustration from the 18th and 19th centuries. The book, released by Abrams on April 13, 2026, focuses on what Himmel terms 'biodiversity art'—hand-drawn depictions of species created for scientific documentation before photography became widespread. Himmel spent five years researching hundreds of artists who worked between 1700-1900, including well-known figures like John James Audubon and Ernst Haeckel alongside lesser-known specialists. The volume features extensive annotations analyzing images across three main branches of natural science, with many plates being previously unpublished. Himmel discovered most material through digital archives that have made historical natural history books widely accessible. In an interview, Himmel explained his interest began during the pandemic when he encountered online collections of illustrated natural history texts. He describes these works as existing between art and science, with artists creating accurate species portraits that sometimes reveal abstract or surreal qualities. The book includes discussion of Haeckel's 1862 work 'Die Radiolarien,' whose detailed radiolarian drawings have been debated for their scientific accuracy versus artistic interpretation. Himmel notes these illustrations influenced Art Nouveau design, as seen in René Binet's 1900 Paris Exposition gateway. The publication also highlights how artists worked from specimens using tools like aquariums and microscopes, with the rarest featured work being Bauer's 'Strelitzia depicta' on bird-of-paradise flowers. Himmel emphasizes that this art form represents a unique non-human-centered tradition in visual culture, encouraging readers to engage with depictions of Earth's diverse life forms.