Sporochnus rhizodes / β paradoxa [= Sporochnus rhizodes / β paradoxus] c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this photogram of Sporochnus rhizodes algae in the mid-19th century, using a process called cyanotype. This involved coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals, placing the algae directly on the surface, and exposing it to sunlight. The cyanotype process, with its distinctive Prussian blue color, renders the algae in stark contrast. The resulting image highlights its delicate, branching structure, as the light and shadow play across the paper. Atkins, a botanist by training, chose this method not only for its relative ease, but also for its capacity to record botanical specimens accurately. Photography, at the time, was at the service of scientific investigation and documentation, rather than being considered an art form in its own right. By employing an accessible technique, Atkins democratized image-making, while simultaneously contributing to the scientific record. This challenges conventional hierarchies between artistic expression, manual production, and scientific pursuit.