The free-living unarmored dinoflagellata pl 11

Charles Atwood Kofoid
Artist Charles Atwood Kofoid
Date 1921
Medium Ink on paper
Collection University of California Libraries
Copyright Public domain. Free for personal & commercial use.

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About the Artist

Charles Atwood Kofoid
American (1865–1947)
Though not a household name, this American marine biologist and artist left a subtle but enduring mark on scientific illustration. Trained at Harvard under the renowned zoologist Louis Agassiz, his work bridged meticulous accuracy with an unexpected elegance, capturing the delicate structures of microscopic marine organisms with almost lyrical precision. Unlike many scientific illustrators of his era, who prioritized strict utility, his plates—often featured in academic journals like *Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum*—leaned into the inherent beauty of radiolarians, diatoms, and other planktonic forms. The interplay of light and shadow in his renderings hinted at an artistic sensibility that transcended mere documentation. His influence was quiet but far-reaching. By elevating the visual language of marine biology, he helped shape how scientists and the public perceived the invisible worlds beneath the waves. Later in life, his focus shifted to teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, where he instilled in students an appreciation for both the rigor and artistry of scientific observation. Today, his legacy lingers in the intersection of science and aesthetics—a reminder that even the most technical disciplines can harbor an unspoken poetry.

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Artwork Story

Charles Atwood Kofoid’s ‘The Free-Living Unarmored Dinoflagellata Pl 11’ captures the delicate beauty of microscopic marine life with astonishing precision. Swirling forms dance across the page, their translucent bodies rendered in intricate detail, as if caught mid-motion under a scientist’s lens. The artist’s background in marine biology shines through in this meticulous study, where scientific accuracy meets artistic flair—each undulating curve and whip-like flagellum tells a story of unseen oceanic worlds.

What makes this 1921 work particularly fascinating is how it bridges art and science without sacrificing either discipline’s integrity. Kofoid doesn’t merely document these single-celled organisms; he elevates them into lyrical compositions that pulse with organic rhythm. The negative space around the dinoflagellates feels like deep water, making the viewer sense the weight and silence of the marine environment these creatures inhabit.

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