Cosmos

Since time immemorial, humankind has contemplated the omnipresence of the heavens. Through myth and the sacred, we have imbued the skies with meaning, weaving them into the fabric of our own history. The firmament was long considered the supreme realm of the divine − inaccessible in all its dimensions. A boundary was drawn, both physical and spiritual, one that remained impassable for centuries.

Yet from antiquity onward, science began to probe this otherworldly expanse, seeking to unveil its mysteries. It devised instruments, those precious telescopes − to better observe the heavens, and since Galileo’s time, scientific inquiry has advanced at an astonishing pace, despite countless technical and religious obstacles. These impediments did not deter his successors who carried the torch forward. The early blows to existing mythologies came with the description of planetary motion and the demonstration of heliocentrism. Instruments grew ever more refined, discoveries multiplied, and humankind began to grasp what once seemed forever beyond reach. Yet the only images that survived were those etched into the mind’s eye, occasionally rendered in delicate sketches.

A shift occurred in the mid-20th century: in 1946, a ballistic rocket carried a camera into the upper atmosphere and returned with the first partial image of Earth from space. Since then − from Apollo 11 to the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope − the history of space exploration has accelerated beyond measure, bringing with it images of breathtaking precision, revealing celestial bodies ever more distant. Born of unprecedented international collaboration, these images astonish by their sheer diversity and sublime beauty.

This exceptional art book pays homage to that ontological rupture that carried Homo Sapiens from gazing at a sky scattered with white dots to beholding images of cosmic entities hundreds of millions of light-years away. In the face of such immensity − of realms likely beyond human comprehension − this book offers not only awe-inspiring visions, but also a mirror into our own bewildering place within the universe.

Structured as a journey from the nearest to the farthest reaches of space, this volume unfolds in four parts, encompassing the full breadth of the cosmos. It is designed as a voyage into infinity. With its elegant, timeless layout and high-quality craftsmanship, the book aspires to become a lasting object of reference. Scientific direction is overseen by Professor Sylvain Chaty, astrophysicist at Université Paris Cité. The foreword is written by Michel Mayor, discoverer of exoplanets and recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for that foundational achievement. A refined and durable stand will ensure a reading experience that is both comfortable and contemplative.

This immense volume is accompanied by a richly illustrated companion book, offering commentary and insights. It traces the history and multiple dimensions of space exploration. Written by leading contributors, it is conceived as a comprehensive and accessible state-of-the-art account of our current understanding of the cosmos.