Porphyra laciniata
1843-1853
Anna Atkins created this ghostly, glowing seaweed silhouette using a revolutionary technique called the cyanotype, which bathes the paper in a brilliant Prussian blue. Published in the 1840s, it's actually a page from what many consider the very first book ever illustrated with photographs! By placing the delicate Porphyra laciniata seaweed directly onto light-sensitive paper and leaving it in the sun, she captured its intricate, lace-like details forever. It's a beautiful blend of hard science and ethereal art that completely changed how we document the natural world.
- Technique
- Cyanotype
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