Preliminary communication

Charles Darwin and Visual Culture

Sara Schwartz

Abstract

The importance of Charles Darwin’s book, On the Origin of Species (1859),cannot be overstated, both in terms of (the history of) evolutionary biologyand culture-wise. The book and the theory of evolution by natural selectionpresented therein eliminates the need for an explanation of a superior powerin all that is related to the diversity of biological species, and thus provides ascientific and materialistic theory for “creation”. The book and its author havebecome pivotal in secular culture, and the focus of attacks by various religiousgroups. With about 500 illustrated covers of a book whose importance goesbeyond the scientific field to which it belongs, it is interesting to study howthe ideas appearing in Origin of Species are illustrated in its many editions,whether there are recurring motifs in the illustrations, and if so, what theirmeanings are. The abundance of illustrated covers of Origin provides virtuallycontrolled conditions for a study of the unique way in which conceptstransfer to the public. Such an investigation must begin by examining the linkbetween text and cover image. Accordingly, my aim is to map and classify theOrigin motifs that appear on the covers of the various editions, and how theyare brought to bear, toward determining which are being transferred In mypaper, I draw on two related concepts first introduced by W.J.T. Mitchell in hisbook Picture Theory: the “imagetext”, defined as a composite of picture and
text that operates as a single unit. When the text and picture do not functionin harmony– when something else intervenes between them – the result isan image/text. These interactions between words and images (imagetext vs.image/text) not only help to analyze representations, but trace their relationshipsto issues of power, value, and human interests. Herein I present anddiscuss recurring motifs among the illustrated covers of the various editionsof Origin of Species, for example: motifs related to the Beagle’s voyage; livingnature; a focus on the author – Charles Darwin – rather than on his ideas;ascent of man (appears only on commercial editions); and unique metaphors.

Keywords

evolution, icon, imagetext, myth, natural selection, progress

Hrčak ID:

314803

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/314803

Publication date:

5.3.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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