Illustrations for a book called "Ida", about the beautifully preserved fossil specimen Darwinius masillae, an early primate. The fossil has been found in the Messel groove in Germany, is 47 million years old and so well preserved that even the skin and stomach contents of the animal can be seen.
The book shows the life and death of this little primate. It has been published in Norway (Cappelen Damm, 2011) and other countries like France, Japan, Danmark and the Netherlands.
These illustrations are made in watercolor and colored pencil, and are 37 x 54 cm large.
https://www.esthervanhulsen.com/
Ida is born in the then rainforests of Messel, Germany
She shares her home in the rainforest with many other animal species. In this illustration at least 27 can be found. Of all these animals, perfectly preserved fossis have been found.
Safe on the back of her mother, Ida watches the forest from the tops of the trees.
Ida is growing up and lives on fruits, seeds and nuts. Remains of fruits and seeds have been found in the stomach of the fossil.
There can also be danger in the jungle. Among other Gastornis, a giant extinct flightless bird roams these forests.
One day something terrible happens. Ida miscalculates a jump and falls from the height of the trees, breaking her wrist (as can be seen in the fossil as well)
But she does not die and lives on the forest floor while her wrist heals.
Ida now lives alone, as she is too slow to keep up wih her group. Here is a scene that shows some animals active at night in the jungle.
An overview of live around the inland sea in Messel. All fossils that have been found have fallen into this water.
Ida is drinking from the lake. But there is an underwater volcano there, and poisenous gasses are bubbling up to te surface...
Ida falls uncontious and into the lake. She sinks to the bottom...
...where she becomes the oldest and best preserved primate fossil in the world, that is so famous today.
