Painting portraits drawn from pathogenic bacteria

Looking at these vivid portraits, few expected that they were made from bacteria.

Portraiture is not a strange art in painting. However, it would be surprising if that painting was created by the same viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

With a new idea, Zachary Copfer is currently studying microbiology in Ohio (USA), creating such scary works.

He exposed high-level bacterial cells to stimulate their growth. Thus, the number of bacteria increases rapidly, forming a vivid portrait picture.

The main objects targeted by Copfer are famous artists and scientists all over the world such as Albert Einstein physicist, painter Pablo Picasso or actor Stephen Fry.

The species of bacteria used to shape the painting are the type found in the body of the character.

Einstein's portrait, Picasso was created from bacilli Serratia marcescens, an agent that causes respiratory diseases and urinary tract infections.

Portrait of Stephen Fry is made from the same bacteria found in this actor's body.

Because the bacteria is taken from the body of the character, the picture is full of symbolic meanings.

Inspired by the image in Mr. Marvel's Polka Dot, Copfer has created a printing technique that combines two or more different small dots to form a third color.

Copfer also used this polka-dot drawing in portraits of historical giants.

Natural researcher Charles Robert Darwin.

Portrait of the genius artist Leonardo Da Vinci.