Scientists who observe, classify, and name nature—why did they draw?

Across time and language, the one universally readable form of recording without distortion is the "picture." From the cave paintings of life left by our ancestors in the age before writing, to the meticulous microscopic records of the 21st century—this book explores the field notes of scientists who accurately depicted nature. It unfolds the stories of struggles and passion of those who devoted themselves to "scientific illustration"—including Maria Merian, Mary Anning, Alexander von Humboldt, Jean-Henri Fabre, Charles Darwin, James Audubon, Shin Saimdang, Nam Gyewoo, and Jeong Yakjeon. Author Lee Dong-ju, a field biologist and a "scientist who draws," vividly brings to life the "encounter between science and art" and "science made easy through pictures." These natural scientists never ceased their efforts to create new knowledge about nature and pass it on to future generations. The scientific illustrations they left behind not only convey knowledge but also evoke the beauty of life, moving all who behold them.

Illustration is a form of record that transcends linguistic and temporal barriers, allowing viewers to easily absorb information. Naturalists across both East and West have utilized this advantage to convey their experiences and research findings without error. By employing illustration as a tool, natural history gradually laid the foundation for its development into natural science, growing into specialized fields such as botany, zoology, and mineralogy.

This book vividly describes how illustration came to be established as a method of scientific research and how "scientific illustrations" are actually created. It also affectionately portrays the lives of scientists who drew—individuals who endured societal perceptions and the limitations of their eras, living lives that were by no means smooth.

Beginning with Maria Merian, who was only recognized as the first ecologist in the 20th century, the book illuminates the colorful life of Alexander von Humboldt—known as an explorer yet a natural scientist who made a significant mark on data science. It looks at Mary Anning, who uncovered the ecology of ancient life through fossils, and introduces James Audubon, who depicted birds in their natural state at life-size. Through these and other stories, the book delicately examines the intersection of illustration and science. It also encompasses Korean natural scientists, including Jeong Yakjeon's fish illustrations, Nam Gyewoo's iris and butterfly paintings, and even Shin Saimdang's garden, showing the diverse individuals who communicated with the world through scientific illustration.

Our Habitat Recorded in Thoughtful and Accurate "Pictures"
From Pencil to AI—Changes and Trends in Tools

The author, a "field biologist who draws" and the operator of Korea's first natural-science bookstore "Dongju," is the most fitting narrator for the lives of naturalists both domestic and abroad. Having collected materials over a long period, the author carefully presents selected illustrations by each scientist, explaining their significance in detail. From monochrome dot-and-line records, watercolor paintings, field sketches, and the intricate lines of copperplate engravings—to tools ranging from pencil and paper to microscopes, cameras, and tablet PCs—a wealth of diverse information about scientific illustrations, never before assembled in one place, is gathered in this single volume.

A major hallmark of The Scientist Who Draws is that it introduces illustrations where the beauty of nature and scientific knowledge coexist through the author's unique perspective. For art lovers, this offers a fresh lens through which to view artworks differently than usual; for science enthusiasts, it provides the pleasure of uncovering hidden information embedded within the illustrations.

What Did Scientists Who Observe, Classify, and Name the Changes in Nature Draw, and Why?

Part 1, "When I Saw the Invisible," discusses the meeting of scientists and illustration. It reveals Maria Merian's boldness in depicting insects—which everyone considered harmful—alongside fresh flowers, and describes Alexander von Humboldt's remarkable turning point in using "data" as a means of recording nature. In particular, the author labored in Part 1 to demonstrate the "power of observation" that pushes all the way through.

Part 2, "The Blue Bird in Misunderstanding and Truth," chronologically gathers stories of scientists who suffered because of their illustrations but ultimately prevailed in their convictions. One noteworthy aspect of this book is its balanced coverage of natural-science stories from both the East and the West. It takes a close look at the field notes of familiar scientists—Charles Darwin, the first name that comes to mind when thinking of "evolution"; the fascinating insect tales contained in Fabre's Book of Insects; and Carl von Linné's system of classification. Moreover, it carefully sheds new light on Korean scientific heritage, covering Heo Jun's Dongui Bogam, Yu Hui's Mullyeonggo, Shin Saimdang's remarkable observational skills, and the butterflies of Nam Gyewoo—personally singled out by Seok Jumyeong.

Finally, Part 3, "The Black Hole of Pen and Paper," discusses scientists who draw in the present day and the future of those who observe and record nature. The author, speaking candidly as a scientist who draws, shares experiences from the field of science and education. Through examples such as illustrated field guides, the author highlights how science can be learned easily through pictures, and emphasizes the importance of accurately depicting nature, stating: "It is crucial to properly understand the habitat in which we live and to prepare for tomorrow."

Preface

PLATE I. When I Saw the Invisible

Figure 1. The Soul That Bloomed from a Tulip
Figure 2. When Drawing a Single Line
Figure 3. A New Romantic Science

PLATE II. The Blue Bird in Misunderstanding and Truth

Figure 4. A Celebrity Turned into a Monkey
Figure 5. The World Deceived Me, I Deceived the World
Figure 6. I See That I Am Alive
Figure 7. Amid a Downpour of Creatures

PLATE III. The Black Hole of Pen and Paper

Figure 8. A 21st-Century Scientist Who Draws
Figure 9. The Lost World

Epilogue
Recommended Further Reading