Ptilota plumosa c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins, a pioneer of photography, created this cyanotype, "Ptilota plumosa," between 1843 and 1853. The image showcases the delicate detail of a red seaweed specimen, rendered in stark white against a vibrant blue background. The cyanotype process, which Atkins helped to popularize, allowed for the creation of photograms, capturing the negative image of an object placed directly on light-sensitive paper. Atkins's work is important for its early exploration of photography as a scientific tool, documenting botanical specimens with remarkable precision.