At the crossroads of art and science, The Beautiful Brain presents Nobel Laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s contributions to neuroscience through his groundbreaking artistic brain imagery.
“Among the world’s greatest scientific illustrations. . . . They posit the thing between your ears as an immense cosmic universe, or at least one of the most intricate of all of nature’s creations. That the images are also undeniable as art only adds to the complexity.” —New York Times
Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934) was the father of modern neuroscience and an exceptional artist. He devoted his life to the anatomy of the brain, the body’s most complex and mysterious organ. His superhuman feats of visualization, based on fanatically precise techniques and countless hours at the microscope, resulted in some of the most remarkable illustrations in the history of science.
This selection of Cajal’s exquisite drawings of brain cells, brain regions, and neural circuits features accessible descriptive commentary, explored in the text from multiple perspectives: Larry W. Swanson describes Cajal’s contributions to neuroscienceLyndel King and Eric Himmel explore his artistic roots and achievementEric A. Newman provides commentary on the drawingsJanet M. Dubinsky describes contemporary neuroscience imaging techniques
This book is the companion to the traveling exhibition that marked the first time that many of these works, which are housed at the Instituto Cajal in Madrid, have been seen outside of Spain.
In addition to showcasing Cajal’s contributions to neuroscience and exploring his artistic roots and achievement, The Beautiful Brain looks at his work in relation to contemporary neuroscience imaging, appealing to general readers and professionals alike.
Publisher : Abrams Books; 2nd prt. edition (January 17, 2017)
Language : English
Hardcover : 208 pages
ISBN-10 : 1419722271
ISBN-13 : 978-1419722271
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 10 x 0.88 x 11 inches
Customers say
Customers praise the book’s beautiful black and white period photos of Cajal and its articulate commentary by Newman and others. The book provides extraordinary insights into the brain, with one customer highlighting its masterful drawings of brain neurons. Customers find it a great gift for neurologists, and one review notes the magnificent photography of Cajal’s original drawings.
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