Polysiphonia elongata c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this photogram of algae, called *Polysiphonia elongata*, using cyanotype, an early photographic process. This print is not just an artwork; it’s also a scientific document. Atkins made the image by placing the algae directly onto paper treated with light-sensitive chemicals, then exposing it to sunlight. The areas covered by the plant remained white, while the exposed background turned that distinctive Prussian blue. The cyanotype process, with its reliance on chemistry and sunlight, democratized image-making. It didn't require the same level of skill or equipment as traditional drawing or painting, and it allowed for the mass production of images. Atkins's work blurs the line between art and science, between handmade and mass-produced, and between documentation and artistry, and that's precisely what makes it so compelling. It reminds us that materials and processes are not neutral, and that they can be powerful tools for understanding the world around us.