Eugen von Ransonnet-Villez

Artist Eugen von Ransonnet-Villez was born on June 7th, 1838. This Austrian illustrator was the first known artist to create paintings directly in the underwater habitats he depicted.

Eugen was inspired following a visit to the Red Sea in 1867, and created his first book depicting the underwater creatures that lived there. At the time, diving was relatively inaccessible, with the modern scuba we know today almost 100 years from becoming available. However, Eugen was not satisfied by observing animals from the surface and from specimens. He began diving in Sri Lanka, where he became determined to document creatures in their natural habitat. He created a diving bell of his own design in order to more intimately observe the underwater world for himself.

Eugen would submerge himself in a 3 foot by 2.5 foot (91 cm by 76 cm) iron and glass diving bell, with weights to sink it to the seafloor and his feet sticking out of the bottom to act as a propeller. He would sketch out his creations in pencil and later paint over them with oils or watercolor.

Eugen said of diving: “one’s normal sense of distance and size is completely lost. You soon realize that in the depths of the ocean you need not only learn how to move, but how to see and hear as well.”

Many artists would follow in Ransonnet’s footsteps, including fellow underwater painter Zarh Pritchard. Pritchard became known for painting with waterproof oils while in a diving suit, rather than utilizing a custom-made diving bell.