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Science 3 January 2003:
Vol. 299. no. 5603, pp. 49 - 50
DOI: 10.1126/science.1077971
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Essays on Science and Society

Also see the archival list of the Essays on Science and Society.

PERCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE:
Beyond the Visible--Microscopy, Nature, and Art

Lynn Gamwell

In the early 19th century, advances in microscopy suddenly opened a clear window into the invisible world of cells and bacteria. In her essay, L. Gamwell describes how these discoveries inspired Art Nouveau artists to add oozing shapes and swirling flagella to their design vocabulary. By 1900, the facades of modern architecture were adorned with protozoa, and artists were painting pictures inspired by deadly microorganisms to symbolize the dark secrets of their psyches. The development of the electron microscope has enabled the ever smaller realms of molecules and viruses to be visualized. These microscopic worlds continue to inspire artists and designers to this day.

The author is curator, Gallery of Art and Science, New York Academy of Sciences, 2 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. E-mail: lgamwell{at}speakeasy.net

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)