Callithamnion Brodiæi
1843-1853
Imagine floating a delicate piece of seaweed on a sheet of paper and letting the sun do the drawing. Anna Atkins created this stunning cyanotype in the 1840s, effectively publishing the first book ever illustrated with photographic images. The deep Prussian blue background contrasts beautifully with the ghostly white silhouette of the Callithamnion Brodiæi algae, capturing its intricate, fern-like structure in permanent detail. She didn't even use a camera; by placing the algae directly on light-sensitive paper, she became a pioneer of the photogram technique, blending science and art in a way that still looks modern today.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
- Material
- Paper
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