Sea monsters have been a fixture of human art for thousands of years, from ancient Greek pottery to Renaissance sea charts to Edo period woodblock prints. Today we're taking a closer look at the different ways mysterious and fantastical sea creatures have inspired artists throughout the world, and through the centuries. Let's go!

We’re currently working on a very special project: Cabinets of Curiosity, an Image Archive. These collections, known as Wunderkammern, were assemblages of rare, unusual, and remarkable objects designed to inspire curiosity and inquiry. The Wunderkammer emerged during the Renaissance, when fascination with the natural world met a surge in exploration, trade, and artistic experimentation. Read on to find out more!

Oceans and waterways are mysterious places, filled with all sorts of interesting creatures. Today, we'll talk about five fascinating species who live under water: The Picked Dogfish, the Porcupinefish, the Electric Catfish and the Octopus. We've also selected some beautiful illustrations from our pictorial archive, Sea-Life & Monsters of the Deep, to capture your imagination!