George Mayerle’s Eye Test Chart (ca. 1907)
This fantastic eye chart — measuring 22 by 28 inches with a positive version on one side and negative on the other — is the work of German optometrist and Ameri…more
Design
The “Salad Oil Style” of Jan Toorop
Selection of Dutch artist Jan Toorop’s distinctive works, designs featuring highly stylised figures, embedded in complex curvilinear designs, with his dynamic line …more
The Model Book of Calligraphy (1561–1596)
Pages from a remarkable book, the result of a collaboration across many decades between a master scribe, the Croatian-born Georg Bocskay, and Flemish artist Joris H…more
Aratea: Making Pictures with Words in the 9th Century
Some of the earliest examples of calligrams found in a 9th-century astronomical manuscript on the constellations….more
A Selection from The MET’s Public Domain Collection, Now Free from All Restrictions
We present our highlights from the lesser known corners of The Metropolitan Museum’s public domain collection, now made available free from restrictions on use….more
W. E. B. Du Bois’ Hand-Drawn Infographics of African-American Life (1900)
Visually dazzling set of hand-drawn charts created by Du Bois, condensing an enormous amount of data on African-American life into aesthetically daring and easily d…more
The Human Alphabet
Collection of alphabets comprised of the human body….more
Pages From an Illustrated Catalogue of Period Ornaments (ca. 1919)
The Illustrated Catalogue of Period Ornaments Cast in Composition and Wood Fibre for Woodwork-Furniture features samples of wood carvings offered by the Decorators …more
Max Brückner’s Collection of Polyhedral Models (1900)
Collection of stellated and uniform polyhedra belonging to Max Brückner , a German geometer….more
Album of Seaweed Pictures (1848)
Fine specimen of a 19th-century seaweed album, in which marine algae is rendered into designs, bouquets, and even sometimes intricate little scenes….more
Colour Analysis Charts by Emily Noyes Vanderpoel (1902)
Colour analysis charts of various objects, such as Assyrian tiles, Persian rugs, a case containing an Egyptian mummy, and even a teacup and saucer — looking at ti…more
16th-Century Ornament Prints
A collection of highly elaborate ornament prints, mostly in the grotesque style, from the collection of the Rijksmuseum – stunningly surreal and elaborate designs….more