Polysiphonia fruticulosa c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype image, "Polysiphonia fruticulosa," in the mid-19th century, using a process that merges art and science. Atkins, a botanist, employed the cyanotype process, an early form of photography, using iron salts and sunlight, as a way to record specimens. She laid seaweed directly onto coated paper, exposing it to sunlight. The areas covered by the plant remained white, while the exposed areas turned a deep cyan blue. The final image is not just a scientific record, but also a work of art, with its delicate lines and ethereal blue hue. The process itself, which relies on natural elements, underscores the connection between Atkins' scientific pursuits and artistic vision. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and craft, and reminds us that the value of an object lies not only in its aesthetic qualities, but also in the knowledge and labor it embodies.