Evolutionary Theory and Visual Culture - The Darwin Effect

This volume explores the effect of Darwinian theory on visual culture through analysis of popular graphics, scientific illustration, natural history diorama, as well as the more traditional art historical material such as painting and sculpture. It extends the discussion to examine the lasting impact the theory of evolution has had on the development of art history as an academic discipline.

List of contents

Introduction 1. The Darwin Effect Michael Dorsch and Jean M. Evans Part 1: Aesthetic Thought and the Darwin Effect 2. Locating the Ancient Near East: Darwin, Ornament, and the Origins of Art Jean M. Evans 3. Evolving Styles and the Art-Historical Reception of Iron Age Relief Carvings Vincent van Exel 4. Evolution in Ornament: Charles Frederick Hartt at Cooper Union Daniela P. M. Kern 5. Seeing and Not Seeing: The Post-Darwinian Eye and Aesthetics in Great Britain Barbara Larson Part 2: Artistic Production and the Darwin Effect 6. Evolving From 'Savages': Mannequin Displays of Prehistoric Humans and Race Linda Kim 7. Origins, Loss, and Desire in Gauguin's Tahitian Eve Martha Lucy 8. Monkey Business: Picasso, 'Le douanier' Rousseau and Darwin's Symbiotic Evolution Fae Brauer 9. Hallucinatory Darwin: The Fantasy Illustration of Sidney Sime Leslie Atzmon 10. Conclusion and Looking Ahead: New Directions in the Study of Darwin Michael Dorsch and Jean M. Evans

About the author

Michael Dorsch has taught at Hunter College and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and is the author of French Sculpture Following the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1880: Realist Allegories and the Commemoration of Defeat.

Jean M. Evans is Research Associate at the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, USA and is the author of The Lives of Sumerian Sculpture: An Archaeology of the Early Dynastic Temple.

Product details

• Authors: Michael Dorsch, Michael (EDT)/ Evans Dorsch, Michael (Hunter College Dorsch, Michael Evans Dorsch, Jean M. Evans
• Assisted by: Michael Dorsch (Editor), Dorsch Michael (Editor), Jean M. Evans (Editor), Evans Jean M. (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 05.01.2026
• EAN: 9781138015999
• ISBN: 978-1-138-01599-9
• No. of pages: 224
• Series: Routledge Advances in Art and Visual Studies; Routledge Advances in Art and Visual Studies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Art history; Theory of art, Evolution, SCIENCE / History, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution, ART / History / General, HISTORY / Social History, History of art / art & design styles, History of Art, History of Science, Social and cultural history