Data Visualization: Beyond Illustration, Towards Elucidation

This article praises innovative approaches to visualizing mathematical formulas. Using Daniel Fleisch's book on Maxwell's equations as an example, it argues that formulas in traditional academic papers are often opaque, while good visualizations clarify complex information, achieving 'elucidation' rather than mere 'illustration'. This aligns with Edward Tufte's concept of 'visual explanation', advocating for the power of data visualization to make complex information easily understandable.