Ulva latissima
1843-1853
Anna Atkins created this striking blue image by placing a piece of sea lettuce directly onto light-sensitive paper and exposing it to the sun, labeling it 'Ulva latissima' at the bottom. This process allowed her to capture the delicate, translucent veins of the algae in ghostly white against a deep Prussian blue background. She wasn't just making art; she was pioneering science, becoming the first person to publish a book illustrated entirely with photographic images. Her 1843 publication predated even the famous male photographers of her time, turning seaweed into ethereal, floating sculptures.
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