Plants and animals

"Art and nature will always fight until they triumph and draw the same lines that are both conquered and claimed simultaneously," wrote 17th-century illustrator and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian. Can her visions of flora and fauna be considered works of art today? Why has art history forgotten the "Raphael of Flowers"? This 240-page album showcases masterful illustrations from historical natural atlases - vivid, precise, and intricately detailed. During the rise of modern taxonomy, these works were not only scientific records but also testimonies to the beauty of nature. Full-scale reproductions and enlarged microscopic details remind us that before photography, prints and drawings fulfilled humanity's aesthetic and intellectual appetite. The collection, sourced from the Print Room of the Scientific Library of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Polish Academy of Sciences, as well as the Library of the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, includes graphic masterpieces, such as famous botanical and ornithological albums. It tells a story of science and art that transcends borders and centuries, merging attentive observation of nature with exceptional artistic craftsmanship. The reproductions have been meticulously restored - blemishes removed and the original color palette recreated using UV technology and high-quality matte paper. The ecological cover, embossed title, and colorful collage harmoniously combine elegance with natural simplicity.