Discover the Extraordinary Tactile Graphics that Bring Nature to Life for the Visually Impaired

In the Alsace-Lorraine region, bordering northeastern France and western Germany, lies the town of Illzach, which was once home to an innovative institute for the blind. Under the direction of Martin Kunz (1847-1923) at the turn of the century, a remarkable series of embossed graphics was produced to aid visually impaired students in learning about nature and geography.

Accompanied by braille descriptions, Kunz’s educational aids depict a wide variety of plants, animals, and maps. To create each page, he meticulously hand-carved two wood pieces to form a mold, into which he sandwiched paper to produce raised illustrations.

Crocodile chasing a man. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

The thick material was soaked in water before being placed between the blocks, allowing the natural fibers to soften and stretch into shape. Kunz created a diverse range of designs, including leaves, fish, herons, crocodiles, and crustaceans, which he mass-produced and distributed to blind students worldwide.

The Perkins School for the Blind library holds a collection of dozens of Kunz’s late-19th and early-20th-century tactile graphics. You can explore more examples from this collection on the Perkins Library’s Flickr page.

Various plants. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Birds. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Flying fish. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Tuna and swordfish. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Squid. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Large birds, including flamingos. Image licensed from Perkins School for the Blind Archives

Learn more about Kunz’s process in a video from the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind, presented by director Mike Hudson. Stay tuned for updates about The Dot Experience, the museum’s expansion set to open in 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky, which emphasizes inclusive design standards and disability access.