Calithamnion roseum
1843-1853
Anna Atkins was a botanical pioneer who essentially invented the photography book with this stunning series. In the 1840s, she placed delicate seaweed specimens like Calithamnion roseum directly onto light-sensitive paper and let the sun bake the image. The result is this ghostly, intricate white silhouette floating against a deep Prussian blue background, created using a technique called cyanotype. It's part of her groundbreaking publication 'Photographs of British Algae,' blending science and art in a way that still looks incredibly modern today.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
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