Chondrus crispus
1843-1853
Anna Atkins created these ghostly, lace-like shapes by placing actual seaweed directly onto light-sensitive paper and letting the sun do the work. The deep Prussian blue background is the hallmark of the cyanotype process, leaving the Chondrus crispus—identified by the elegant script at the bottom—as a brilliant white silhouette. Published in the 1840s as part of her book 'Photographs of British Algae,' this piece marks a huge moment in history: Atkins is widely considered the first person to publish a book illustrated entirely with photographic images. It’s a beautiful blend of hard science and artistic elegance that looks like a blueprint from nature itself.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
Views: 2