Conferva pellucida c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype, "Conferva pellucida," using light-sensitive chemicals and a contact print method. In it, ethereal white algae are suspended against a deep blue, evoking both scientific accuracy and a dreamlike quality. Consider the symbolic resonance of plants, particularly those from the sea. Throughout history, the plant form appears in the Tree of Life, connecting the terrestrial and divine realms. Algae, emerging from the depths, can be seen as a symbol of life's origins, reflecting ancient creation myths where life springs from primordial waters. Think of Botticelli's Venus, rising from the sea, adorned with floral motifs, mirroring this very concept. This stark, ghostly depiction taps into our collective memory, evoking a sense of the uncanny, where the familiar plant is transformed into something otherworldly. This visual language invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of existence.