Ernst Haeckel Draws a Psychedelic World

Ernst Haeckel was a 19th century artist, philosopher and professor who had a deep interest in the natural world. His beautifully detailed illustrations of sea creatures, insects, plants and animals have survived over a century of change and are still hailed as among the best nature illustrations that exist to this day.

Photography vs Psychedelic Illustrations
The art of photography has existed for centuries, though not as we know it today. As early as the 4th and 5th centuries BC, Chinese and Greek philosophers and mathematicians described pinhole cameras. By the late 19th century, more sophisticated cameras were in use. These cameras often produced blurry images that were either over- or under-exposed, so up until the early 20th century, illustrations were the best way for scientists to share images of their findings with other biologists. These illustrations were used to identify and differentiate species of animals. Ernst Haeckel earned a name for himself for his highly detailed, intricately constructed illustrations of the natural world.

Ernst Haeckel often colored his illustrations, a technique that allowed other naturalists to imagine not just the shape and texture of the creature, but its color patterns too. During the 19th century, photographs were produced in black and white which meant that color illustrations were often valued more than photographs. [source]

This illustration, called "Orchidae", depicts several orchid flower species. Haeckel often drew collections of animals or plants of the same species, showcasing both the similarities and differences between the different breeds. [source]

Ernst Haeckel's illustrations were highly prized for their level of detail. Many nature artists of the time would simply have drawn a rough sketch of this sea creature, unlike Haeckel; who has drawn every tiny detail of the sea anemone. [source]

Natural Psychedelic Design
It's unlikely that Haeckel's intention was to create psychedelic art works. As a biologist and naturalist, Haeckel simply wanted to record the world as he saw it, as a collection of intricate patterns and subtle shades. But repetitive patterns create the basis of psychedelic art, so Haeckel's illustrations have unintentionally become mind-boggling art works.

Many of Haeckel's drawings are of sea creatures such as sea anemones. With their repetitive patterns and intricate details, these creatures are the perfect subjects for psychedelic, alienish art works. [source]

Ernst Haeckel's illustrations often have an otherworldly feel. The creature in the picture above could easily feel at home on an alien planet, yet oddly enough, it calls Earth its home. [source]

Another of Ernst Haeckel's illustrations shows several different breeds of the same jellyfish specie. In all of his art works, Haeckel included as much detail as he possibly could, making his drawings the first truly accurate visual recordings of many creatures. [source]

Ernst Haeckel died on August 9, 1919, leaving behind hundreds of nature illustrations. Nearly a century after his death, his drawings are still celebrated as being some of the most detailed and attractive biological illustrations in the world.

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Antique Lolcats Photographs make Kitteh Historeh

The word 'lolcat' is created from the abbreviation 'lol' and 'cat', and is used as a label for any funny photograph of a cat. Often the photo is captioned with 'lolspeak', a misspelled language that was formed during the rise in popularity of lolcat pictures.

A Kitteh Historeh of lolcats
In the 1870s a British photographer called Harry Pointer created a series of photographs of cats. To add to the humor of the cat pictures Pointer would often add a funny caption, and thus the first lolcat pictures were born. Soon other photographers were using cats and other animals as subjects in photographs, often dressing the animals in human clothing and personifying them by posing them in human situations. Harry Whittier Frees is another notable antique lolcat photographer who created dozens of animal pictures that were a parody of human life.

Above: Antique lolcat photograph by Harry Pointer, with the caption "Bring up the dinner Betsy" [source]

Above: An antique lolcat postcard from 1905. The photograph was taken by Harry Whittier Frees, who added the caption "What's delaying my dinner?" In modern lolspeak, the caption would probably be along the lines of the classic; "I can has cheezburger?" [source]

Postcards of pets in costumes with captions were a novel concept in the early 20th century and became a popular way to communicate with loved ones who lived far away, as postcards included a picture and were cheaper to send than letters. Often the lolcat postcards were sent in place of birthday cards, to the delight of the children who received them. Even a century ago, lolcats were a popular form of humor.

Makin da Kittehs seem Hooman

Anthropomorphism is the act of giving animals or objects human characteristics and personalities. Harry Whittier Frees was a master of anthropomorphism who didn't just pose his animal subjects in human situations, but waited for a seemingly human expression to pass across the animals' faces before he took a photograph. Often the facial expressions were ones of resignation or exhaustion as it must have been tiring for the animals to sit for the camera in uncomfortable positions for what could be hours. 

Above: A Frees photograph of a feline teacher and her pupils. Lolspeak hadn't yet been invented, so antique lolcat photographs often implied that cats were as intelligent as humans. If this were a modern lolcat picture, the alphabet would probably be jumbled and the title of the teachers book would be something along the lines of "spalling book". [source]

Above: Another of Harry Whittier Frees's antique lolcat pictures. Part of the appeal of Frees's images was the fact that props had to be made to size. At the time doll collecting was becoming a popular hobby which meant the doll-like effect of these antique lolcat pictures was well-received by the public.

Lolcats as an Antique Art Form

Before the art of photography was created, humorous pictures were either painted or illustrated. A notable cat illustrator of the late 19th century was Louis Wain. Wain's drawings of cats in human situations captured the imaginations of the people at the time and were published in newspapers as a form of entertainment. 

Above: Like the lolcat photographers of the time, Wain chose to pose his feline subjects in human situations, personifying them with human emotions such as humor, frustration and surprise. [source]

Above: Louis Wain's cat characters were often cartoonish in nature, sporting caricature facial expressions that made them seem more human. [source]

Although websites like lolcats.com and icanhascheezburger.com are modern inventions, the art of funny cat pictures has existed for over a century. Over time lolcats have been given their own language and their own attitude toward life.

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Antique Versions of Modern Appliances

During the Victorian era, many new time-saving devices were designed to run on the brand-new energy source; electricity. For the first time, the world had electrical home appliances that performed menial chores faster and more efficiently than before.

The Electric Toaster, the Best Thing since Sliced Bread
Bread has been a staple food in many cultures for centuries. It is dipped in soups or used to create sandwiches. It can be crumbed, fried or used to soak up other foods such as gravy or sauces. One of the most popular ways to eat bread is to toast it and serve it with butter, jam or eggs. In the pre-electrical world, toast was created by cutting a slice of bread from the loaf and suspending it over coals or before an open flame. Although a number of toasting utensils were created, toasting bread was a fairly tricky affair that often resulted in burnt bread or singed fingers.
Early electrical toaster designs included a heating coil that gave bread an appealingly even toasting. Although this may sound safer than an open flame, antique toasters were fairly dangerous. Because there was no timing mechanism the machine wouldn't switch off without human intervention, leading to a number of small fires caused by forgotten toasters.

Above: An antique electrical toaster that was in circulation around 1910, consisting of electrical heating coils surrounded by wire baskets for holding the bread. To use this toaster, a person would have to turn the bread slices by hand. [source]

The Electric Kettle, a Boiling Point in History

Hot water has played a role in human development since time immemorial. It is used for cooking, bathing, cleaning and in the preparation of a number of products. Applying heat to water is an act that is performed countless times every day, all over the world. In our modern era, the task of boiling water is as simple as filling the kettle and flicking a switch.

Boiling water wasn't always as easy as it is today. The first electrical kettles were created in the 1890s and contained a heating element in a compartment below the kettle, meaning that huge amounts of energy were wasted in the boiling process. The first electric kettles weren't insulated and could become hot enough to burn, eliciting painful gasps from those unlucky enough to brush against it. Antique electrical kettles, like early electrical toasters, didn't switch themselves off and would boil dry without supervision. 

Above: An electric kettle, designed by Peter Behrens in 1910. This model contained a solid heating element that slides out for replacement. [source]

The Domestic History of the Electric Washing Machine

At the same time that electric kettles and electric toasters were being introduced into households, other time-saving devices were being invented. One advancement that must have caused sighs of relief for domestic workers was the electric washing machine. Before the creation of the mechanized washing process, clothing and linens were often washed by hand, either in a river or a drum of water. Those that weren't washed by hand were placed in a drum that was then turned with a handle, a tiring and time-consuming job.

The first electric washing machine was named The Thor, and was invented in 1908 by the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago. The Thor was an incredibly dangerous piece of machinery. The electric motor was situated under the open drum of water, which meant that spills often led to electrical shocks. Because the moving parts were not covered, clothing, fingers and hair could get caught in the machine. Despite the dangers, women of the age cooed with delight at The Thor, as the electric washing machine was one of the first devices that made mundane domestic chores easier.

Above: The Thor washing machine. The machine is reputed to have been so dangerous that it could scalp a person if their hair got caught in the moving parts. [source]

The History of the Iron is a Wrinkle in Time

In order to remove wrinkles from clothing and bedding, domestic workers of the 19th century would use a flatiron. This was an arrow-shaped piece of metal with a handle which was placed on hot coals or in a fire to heat, wiped to remove carbon from the metal surface and then quickly pressed against the cloth to press out wrinkles. These irons could easily ruin expensive garments or scorch the hands of the user. Because it took so long for an iron to heat up, a laundress would often have two or three irons on the go; heating irons as she worked the cloth with another iron.

The first electric iron was patented in 1882 by Henry W. Seely. He called it the "electric flatiron". It was an invention that would seem cumbersome and crude by modern standards as it took a long time to heat up, had no variable heat settings and no way to steam cloth. Essentially, it was a chunk of metal that heated up and continued to get hotter and hotter until it eventually it burned either an item of clothing or a flustered laundress. 

Above: The Seely Electric Flatiron contained no insulation on the handle, which needed to be gripped with a thick cloth to prevent the laundress from burning her hands. Like all Victorian era appliances, the Seely iron was a cause for many small (and probably a few large) fires. [source]

Many electrical appliances that we take for granted these days, such as kettles, washing machines and toasters would have been a baffling marvel of engineering and technology just a century ago. 

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Hobo Nickels are the Currency of Art

A hobo nickel is a small denomination coin that has been sculpted in an artistic manner. Usually, the artwork is a portrait carved into the surface of the coin, to replace the original coin artwork.


Why Carve Nickels?

Although a number of coins are used, the American nickel is a favorite among coin carvers, because it is soft and easy to carve. The art form began, as many art styles do, as a means of entertainment, and was popular among homeless people (hobos) and soldiers, as a way to pass the time. Softer coin sculptures can be created with the tip of a knife, and the medium and tools carried easily in a pocket, making it an ideal art form for those on the move.
Most hobo nickel coin carvings replace the original portrait on the coin with a portrait of the artist's own creation.

 

 

Top left: a realistic carving of a skull replaces the original head on the coin. 

Top right: A hobo nickel artists' distinctive style shows through the coin carving design.

Bottom left: A humorously grinning parody of Death, wearing a crown and smoking a cigar.

Bottom right: A viking portrait decorates the coin in place of the original design.

Love Tokens or Art Works?

The earliest recorded Hobo nickels are from the 18th century, and the majority of coin carvings recovered from this period are love tokens. These would most often be created by machining a coin smooth and then carving the lovers' initials or a design into the face of the coin.

 

Top: Love token hobo nickels were often crafted to be worn on a necklace.

Bottom: This love coin has the lovers' initials and the date, surrounded by artistic carvings.

Money as Art

Although it is not illegal to deface coins in the name of art, it is illegal to alter money with the intention of cheating another person. As long as hobo nickels are sold as an art work, and not returned into circulation, most authorities will turn a blind eye to this art form.

   

Above: Animals such as lions, owls and raccoon have been used as subject matter for the coin art carvings. 

Bottom right: A beautiful woman is carved into this coin, beside the word, "liberty". Although it is not clear, this could be the artist's personal rendition of the political ideal personified in the Statue of Liberty.

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10 Paintings by Adolf Hitler

Hitler is known for being one of the most evil and murderous men in Jewish history. Yet few people know that he also produced a large amount of paintings, focusing on flowers, landscapes and cathedrals.

Adolf Hitler, Dictator of the Holocaust
Adolf Hitler, failed dictator of Germany during World War II, produced a variety of oil and watercolor paintings. In addition to being responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people, including the genocide of six million Jews, Hitler was an artist who used cathedrals and flowers as subject matter for many of his paintings.

"Dianthus", a fine art painting by Adolf Hitler. This painting is surprising to many, as the feminine, gentle flowers don't reveal the cruelty of the man who painted them. Many of Adolf Hitler's paintings were like this; weak in composition and lacking in any vibrant visual appeal.

This painting by Adolf Hitler is called simply, "Roses". Although Hitler was not a great artist, his paintings are not terrible either. However, there is a level of insecurity and immaturity in this painting. Hitler has forgotten to add a shadow beneath the pot, which is a commonly a child's mistake. While the flowers seem finished, the pot seems to have been hurriedly plonked into the scene without any finishing touches such as shows, highlights and reflections. A more careful and skilled painter would not have made these mistakes.

Adolf Hitler's Failed Art Career

Before becoming involved in politics, Hitler applied several times to The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, hoping to further his artistic career. He was turned down each time, and was forced to live on the streets, selling paintings to tourists and exchanging them in restaurants for meals.

Hitler called this painting, "Cathedral in Vienna". Hitler's paintings of architecture sometimes had more detail and contrast between light areas and shadows than his still life paintings. 

"Mother Mary with the Holy Child Jesus Christ". Hitler's paintings of Mary and Jesus has caused a lot of controversy among Christians. Hitler himself was a Christian, yet he was the creator of much misery and despair during the Second World War. He has been held responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews, gypsies and people from other social sects that Hitler didn't deem worthy of being included in his future Germany.

Many of HItler's paintings portrays the scenery that he encountered during his military campaigns around Europe. When Adolf Hitler opened his own art museum, he very sternly rejected modern art, favoring classical styles over the more adventurous and sometimes brutish modern art styles, yet in the painting above, the style is more akin to the Impressionists; a modern art movement that rebels against classical art styles.

Not only are these paintings unique because of their infamous painter, they also give us a view into the past; showing us buildings and fashions from Hitler's time.

Before becoming involved in politics, Adolf Hitler used to paint pastoral scenes which he sold to tourists. Many of these paintings included churches, farm buildings and farmland; the kind of scenes that people might want to look at in their living room.

Adolf Hitler was known for using a variety of different paints, so he didn't just stick to oil painting or watercolor painting. This makes his art works even more difficult to authenticate. It is believed by many art professionals that some of Hitler's paintings that have previously been sold for a lot of money may in fact be fakes.

Note the difference in styles between each of Hitler's paintings. It is possible that this painting, or any one of the others, is a fake because Hitler didn't have a distinctive, recognisable style.

It's crazy to think that the man who painted this peaceful, gentle landscape was responsible for so much pain, horror and death during WWII. 

Fake Hitler Paintings

The authenticity of Hitler’s paintings is often hard to prove, as he seldom mentioned the paintings by name or description in his correspondence and diaries. His friend, Reinhold Hanisch, sold fake Hitler paintings during the fuehrer’s reign over Germany, an act that Hitler did not approve of. During Hitler’s youth, Hanisch pushed him to create a painting per day, a grueling pace which otherwise managed to feed them each evening. 

Adolf Hitler's signature appears to have changed as he matured, and so it is possible that some painting that are believed to be the work of Adolf Hitler, were actually forgeries or fakes.

This is Hitler's signature on an authentic, verified sketch by Adolf Hitler

This is the signature that Adolf Hitler used on official documents, which is completely different from the signature that he used on his art works.

It's possible that Adolf Hitler was simply trying to sign his name in an impressionist style to match the painting, but this signature is considered by many to be fake, and paintings that bear this signature are often suspected to be forgeries.

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Steampunk Styles Punk Modern Devices and Gadgets with Victorian Vogue

As a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy, steampunk has clattered and ground its way into current technological designs. Incorporating the steam-driven and clockwork-powered inventions of the late 19th century into current gadgets and devices, artists and designers are using steampunk styles to give modern technological tools an old-world feel.

Steampunk Flash Drives/USB Drives

Also known as thumb drives, these nifty mass storage devices are pocket-sized and portable. Though the purpose of the device is to perform a modern function; the transportation of information, there’s no reason why the design of the USB shouldn’t look like it has teleported from an alternate reality. Victorian-era design elements that are used in steampunk designs include clockwork parts and metals such as copper or bronze.

Above: 2GB Copper Steampunk Flash Drive from qacreate. Steampunk mods are fast becoming a popular form of geek art.

Above: 16GB Mechanical Memory Key from Artype, using clockwork parts from six pocket watches. When in use, the drive glows green from below, giving the parts a sense of movement. 

Above: 16GB Copper and Patina Steampunk Flash Drive from cerriousdesign. The three gears move when the drive is connected.

Steampunk Computer Mouse

A computer mouse is typically made with modern materials such as plastic and rubber. By using Victorian-era elements of woods and metals, these designers have transformed this computer device to look like a 19th century antique.

Above: Steampunk Furnace Mouse by Unklian. The buttons are made from shaped copper, and a steam furnace effect is created with an orange LED inside the casing. 

Above: The Bug, Steampunk Computer Mouse created by Jake Hildebrandt, for his steampunk computer The Telecalculograph.

Above: Steampunk mouse from Modding Russia. Intricate designs on the metal and a rope casing for the cord create a truly authentic feel for this piece.

Steampunk iPods

Above: Steampunk iPod Case by Neal Brigdens, using copper, brass and oak wood. Created using jeweler’s techniques, this sturdy case is likely to outlive the iPod it holds.

Above: Doctor Grymm’s Eye-Pod Victrola from DrGrymmLaboratories.net. Fully functining iPod cased in a steampunk, horror hybrid casing. 

Steampunk Laptops and Computers

Above: Hewlett Packard ZT1000 laptop casing by Datamancer. The laptop is turned on and off with an antique clock-winding key and boasts clawed feet and antique-styled copper keyboard and mouse.

Above: Dell 1907FP Flat Panel Monitor and keyboard steampunk mod by The Steampunk Workshop. The screen uses chime levers from a grandfather clock as screen controls.

Above: The Nagy Magical-Movable-Type-Pixello-Dynamotronic Computational Engine by Datamancer. This elaborate design uses a typewriter, clock and a carved wooden stand complete with lamps to create steampunk style.

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8 Amazing Tattoos of Famous Paintings

Tattoo artists are transforming famous paintings into mobile artworks by inking them as permanent body art.

Vincent van Gogh's Artworks as Tattoos

Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890) is famous for his painting style of bold brush strokes and vivid color. Van Gogh’s paintings have an appealing sense of movement in them, created by the direction of the brush work. He is also famous for cutting off part of his ear after an argument with his brother.

Above: Tattoo of Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting “Sunflowers”

Above:  Tattoo of Vincent van Gogh’s “Self-portrait” 

Above:  Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting,“Starry Night”, as a miniature artwork tattoo

Salvador Dali's Famous Paintings Tattoos

Salvador Dali (1904 – 1989) was an eccentric Surrealist artist who often behaved in a bizarre manner to draw attention to himself. His paintings are famous for their imaginative and unusual imagery.

Above:  Tattoo of Salvador Dali’s famous painting“Swans Reflecting Elephants” 

Above:  Tattoo of Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory” popularly called “Melting Clocks” 

Above:  Tattoo of a character from Salvador Dali’s “Les Elephants” 

Tattoos of Pablo Picasso's Paintings

Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) was a painter and sculptor who was one of the artists who founded the Cubist movement. His paintings incorporate a warped sense of perspective and sharp angles where there are naturally occurring smooth curves.

Above: Tattoo of Pablo Picasso’s “The Guitarist” 

Above: Tattoo of Picasso’s “Colombe Avec Fleurs” (Dove with flowers) 

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