Diatomea. – Doosdiatomeeën
1904
Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist and artist, created this stunning plate of diatoms—microscopic single-celled algae with intricate glass-like shells—for his famous 1904 book *Kunstformen der Natur* (Art Forms of Nature). He believed these tiny organisms were nature's ultimate architects, designing them with such perfect symmetry and geometric beauty that they heavily influenced the Art Nouveau movement. Looking closely at these delicate, lace-like patterns, it is easy to see why architects and designers of the early 20th century were so inspired by the hidden wonders of the microscopic world.