Friday, 12 August 2011
Hermann Von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (August 31, 1821 – September 8, 1894) was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science. In physiology and psychology, he is known for his mathematics of the eye, theories of vision, ideas on the visual perception of space, color vision research, and on the sensation of tone, perception of sound, and empiricism. In physics, he is known for his theories on the conservation of energy, work in electrodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, and on a mechanical foundation of thermodynamics. As a philosopher, he is known for his philosophy of science, ideas on the relation between the laws of perception and the laws of nature, the science of aesthetics, and ideas on the civilizing power of science. The largest German association of research institutions, the Helmholtz Association, is named after him.
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While in the archives of Heidelberg University I picked up this photocard, a signed photgraph of Hermann Von Helmholtz. What intrigued me was the writing below which says ‘inheritance Ewald’. Ewald was the assistant of Kühne in th production of many attempts at optograms. Helmholtz was the Professor of Physiology before Kühne. In honour of the reverence felt for Helmholtz it was suggested that an optogram be made with an image of Helmholtz.
Thanks to Alexandra Veith for her help in the Ewald mystery.