Bangia fusco-purpurea 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins's cyanotype photograph, "Bangia fusco-purpurea," from her groundbreaking book "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions," showcases her pioneering use of the cyanotype process to document the natural world. The image, a delicate silhouette of the Bangia fusco-purpurea seaweed, is rendered in striking blue tones, a testament to Atkins's innovative photographic techniques. Her work is considered a significant contribution to both botanical illustration and the development of photography as a scientific tool.