I published
an article on The Blaschkas and Haeckel in
Origine : tijdschrift voor kunst, antiek en design [magazine for art, antiques
and design] Vol. 22 no. 1 (2014-1) The
editor of the magazine devised a title and a leader to my contribution. Unfortunately,
both missed the point and well before the magazine went into print, objections
were made, and the desired rectifications were indicated. Regrettably, these
were ignored. To read the title “To serve the theory of evolution” truly embarrasses
me.
As this is my blog I feel free to express why the focus on “evolution” saddens me.
As this is my blog I feel free to express why the focus on “evolution” saddens me.
It may be noted that mention of evolution
theory appeals to many, and it sells movies and magazines. Why would this be?
My suggestion is, that theory of evolution answers the needs that religion answered before: it tells why we are here on earth; it legitimates what we feel and what
we do; it takes away guilty feelings about the more primitive layers of our
personality. Evolution can be put to use as the force that is responsible for our
imperfection. However, being a scientist and an artist, I object to these lines of thought:
both responsibility and perfection should always be aimed at.
I stress again
that the equation Blaschka = Evolution cannot be based on my work.
And for that
matter, also the equations Blaschka = Haeckel and Blaschka = Art Nouveau /
Jugendstil cannot be derived on my work.
Those who do so, are merely projecting their own preoccupations.
Today is the 192th
birthday of Leopold Blaschka. He deserves to be appreciated by
his work, not by preconceived ideas.
The magazine
printed this (in translation):
To serve the theory of
evolution
In nineteenth-century
Dresden, he father and son Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka had a thriving
practice as glassblowers. They specialized in models of marine invertebrates,
which then were highly in demand. The Blaschkas relied on the work of
Professor Ernst Haeckel of Jena, an early supporter of the theory of
evolution. Henri Reiling , artist and biologist determined how the two glassblowers helped to advance
jellyfish research.
|
And now the
reservations:
… To serve the theory
of evolution…
In
none of the Blaschkas’ trade catalogues is even referred to the theory
of evolution. The text of the
essay explains that - plausibly - the theory
of evolution accelerated the demand for glass models of marine animals for natural history collections. But also was indicated, that amassing natural history collections as a scientific practice became obsolete because of the theory of evolution. This is in itself interesting and there is no further need for a sweeping statement.
The
original title: “The Blaschkas and
Haeckel: Shared fascination, parallel development” thus disappeared completely out of sight. In earlier work, I pointed out that Professor Haeckel, propagandist for the theory of evolution, is just one of the traceable influences on the composition
of the offered trade collection
of glass models by Blaschka. However, his is certainly not the only influence. The Blaschkas made
glass animals for scientific collections, with which several
kinds of science can be
illustrated: for example, comtemporary
comparative morphology, anatomy and embryology. Even the
conviction that by studying nature, God's work can be understood does not
contradict with collecting glass animal models.
This is why
I was, back then, very happy with the title for my chapter of the Tübingen
catalogue. I used a fragment from the Blaschka letters reading: ... von
unserer aufrichtigen Vorliebe zur Naturwissenschaft geleitet” [... guided by our sincere preference for
natural science], which was exactly spot on.
… glassblowers…
The Blaschkas were no glassblowers. A
glass blower processes molten glass from a furnace or kiln on a blowpipe. “Glassworker”
or possibly “glass artist” are correct indications. Their own
choice was ‘Glasmodelleur’ [Glass
modeller].
The Blaschkas relied on the work of Professor Ernst Haeckel from
Jena ...
The article only treats the influence of Haeckel. The traceable influence of his scientific illustrations is limited to 18 models / model series out of the 700 numbers that Blaschkas trade catalog offered. This is exactly mentioned in the text of the article. The Blaschkas relied on a wide range of high quality scientific illustrations.
The article only treats the influence of Haeckel. The traceable influence of his scientific illustrations is limited to 18 models / model series out of the 700 numbers that Blaschkas trade catalog offered. This is exactly mentioned in the text of the article. The Blaschkas relied on a wide range of high quality scientific illustrations.
… helped to advance
jellyfish research…
The world turned upside down!
Exactly the formless lumps of pickled
animals were suitable for research. In turn, the glass models were
well suited for teaching
and instruction. Glass models cannot help to advance research, because they can only depict what is already known.
