Griffithsia corallina 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins created this cyanotype of Griffithsia corallina in the 19th century using a photographic printing process that gives the image a distinctive Prussian blue hue. The plant is presented with delicate white lines against a solid ground. This contrast accentuates the form of the algae, giving it both volume and depth. Atkins' method highlights the object's structure, inviting a closer look at the details of its organic geometry. She uses the stark simplicity of the cyanotype to present the plant almost as a diagram, blurring the lines between art and science. The composition prompts a meditation on representation itself; what does it mean to capture the essence of something through an image? Consider how Atkins' cyanotypes, born from scientific documentation, now stand as artworks. The work challenges our understanding of classification, perception, and the complex intersection of art, science, and knowledge.