Natural history illustration

Natural history illustration is the detailed artistic representation of plants, animals, and other natural objects, created to accurately depict their appearance for scientific study and documentation. These illustrations aim to convey precise visual information about shape, color, and structure, often including multiple perspectives or life stages. Historically essential before photography, they serve as a valuable record in understanding biodiversity, evolution, and ecology. Skilled illustrators combine artistic skill with scientific accuracy to support research, education, and conservation efforts, ensuring that complex biological details are communicated clearly and reliably.