Conferva arcta c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins created "Conferva arcta" using the cyanotype process, a photographic printing technique that produces a cyan-blue print. In the Victorian era, women like Atkins often found avenues for intellectual expression through scientific illustration. Her photograms of algae weren't just scientific records, they were a radical intervention in both the male-dominated fields of science and photography. As a woman in the 19th century, Atkins defied expectations by mastering a complex technical process and using it to create what are now considered some of the earliest examples of photography. The stark, almost ghostly images of seaweed against the cyan-blue background speak to a quiet, persistent observation of the natural world. "Conferva arcta" invites us to consider the intertwined histories of science, art, and gender. It subtly challenges us to reflect on the contributions of women who, working outside the mainstream, reshaped our understanding of the world.