Polysiphonia nigrescens
1843-1853
Floating like a ghostly white burst of fireworks against a deep Prussian blue, this isn't a painting but one of the earliest photographs in history. Anna Atkins created this 'cyanotype' in the 1840s by laying actual seaweed on light-sensitive paper and letting the sun bake the image. By compiling these into a book called 'Photographs of British Algae,' she became the very first person to publish a book illustrated with photographic images. It’s a stunning mix of botany and early technology that looks like a magical snapshot from the ocean floor.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
- Material
- Paper
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