Hexacoralla – Six-rayed Star Corals
1904
German biologist Ernst Haeckel had a secret superpower: he could turn marine life into breathtaking art. This 1904 plate from his famous book *Kunstformen der Natur* (Art Forms in Nature) showcases various hexacorals, including a giant brain coral right in the center. Haeckel believed that the perfect symmetry of these creatures proved the beauty of evolutionary laws, and he was right—these intricate designs heavily inspired the Art Nouveau movement. Architects and designers of the early 20th century obsessed over these prints, using nature's organic curves to decorate everything from buildings to jewelry.
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