Lyngbya Carmichælii 1851 - 1855

"Lyngbya Carmichælii" is a cyanotype photograph by Anna Atkins, a pioneer in the field of photography, made between 1851 and 1855. Atkins used the cyanotype process, a photographic printing process that produces a characteristic blue-and-white image, to document various types of algae. This image, which depicts the Lyngbya Carmichælii algae species, is part of her groundbreaking book "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions". Atkins' work was not only a scientific record but also an artistic exploration of the beauty and complexity of nature, contributing to the development of both photography and botanical illustration. The cyanotype process, used in Atkins' work, produces a distinctive blue background, and this print highlights the intricate, delicate structure of the algae in white, showcasing the intricate details of these organisms.