Griffithsia corallina.
1843-1853
Ghostly white seaweed floats against a striking Prussian blue background in this stunning image from the 1840s. Anna Atkins, a British botanist, created this by placing the actual Griffithsia corallina specimen directly onto light-sensitive paper and exposing it to sunlight—a technique called cyanotype. This isn't just a pretty picture; it's a page from the very first book ever illustrated with photographs, predating even the famous works of William Henry Fox Talbot. Atkins essentially invented the photo book to help her friends identify algae, turning dry scientific classification into something that looks like a dreamy blueprint from the ocean floor.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
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