The astronomical community has lost one of history's great visual artists, who dedicated himself to astronomical illustrations.
Adolf Schaller, 1956-2024. Credit: Adolf Schaller/Facebook
Adolf Schaller, one of the world’s most talented and pioneering space artists, passed away in early August at the age of 68. He leaves behind a published body of work that establishes him as one of the greatest space artists. His attention to ongoing discoveries, from the solar system to distant galaxies, resulted in portraits that reflect both what is known about these places and his vision of their visual appeal.
Born in 1956, Schaller's life spanned the space age from its beginnings with Sputnik 1 to many recent discoveries in near and far space.
In the mid-1970s, Astronomy The magazine was a pioneer in the presentation of space art, and Schaller's earlier work seen there formed a large part of that magazine's early “golden age.” An editor at AstronomyTerence Dickinson later published several editions of a magnificent book, The universe and beyond (Camden House, 1992), which contained numerous illustrations by Schaller, many of them made specifically for the book.
Schaller later became part of the team of artists on Carl Sagan's PBS show. Cosmosand created many pieces of animation as well as painted balloons and landscape backgrounds for the series. He later lent his talents to PBS programs Planet Earth and Infinite journeySchaller also produced many layers of art for a brief close-up of the galactic center for Douglas Trumbull's film. Great ideaSchaller's European landscape for the film 2010 He was too demanding for the director, who fired him when the artist's informed knowledge clashed with the director's preconceptions.
Schaller's space art later appeared in press releases for many observatories and in redesigned exhibits for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. A book by Dickinson and Schaller, Extraterrestrials: A Field Guide for Earthlings (Camden House, 1994), further demonstrates the breadth of his conceptual and artistic abilities.
Adolf Schaller's vision will be missed, but his work will continue to inspire.
Related: Astronomy The magazine presents the 50 greatest cosmic scenes of our time
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