Exillaria crystallinum parasitic 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins, a pioneer of photography, created this cyanotype print, *Exillaria crystallinum parasitic,* as part of her groundbreaking book, *Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions*. Atkins used the cyanotype process, which she learned from John Herschel, to capture the delicate details of various algae species. The blue background and white seaweed create a striking contrast, highlighting the intricate structures of the plant life. The print is part of a larger collection housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.