Haeckel’s Jellyfish, 1904 — Antique Historical Print

The Story in the Margin

Jellyfish, or medusae, were one of Ernst Haeckel's own scientific specialties, and Cnidaria recur throughout Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature), his atlas of 100 plates issued between 1899 and 1904. Its very first set included a jellyfish he named Desmonema annasethe, after his late wife Anna Sethe, whose long flowing hair its trailing tentacles brought to mind. Rendered with the radial symmetry and ornamental detail that made the atlas a touchstone for Art Nouveau design, Haeckel's medusae remain some of the most recognisable natural history illustrations ever published.

Materials & origin

• Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
• Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
• Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
• Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
• Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.