Polysiphonia elongata
1843-1853
Imagine placing a piece of seaweed on light-sensitive paper and letting the sun do the drawing—that’s exactly what Anna Atkins did here. Although Polysiphonia elongata is actually a red algae, the cyanotype process turns the background a deep Prussian blue while the plant blocks the light, leaving a ghostly white silhouette. This isn't just a pretty picture; it's a page from what is widely considered the very first book ever illustrated with photographs, published in 1843. Atkins used this newfangled technique to create a scientific catalog of British algae, accidentally creating some of the most beautiful abstract art of the Victorian era.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
- Material
- Paper
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