Porphyra laciniata 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype of Porphyra laciniata, a type of seaweed, in the mid-19th century. What strikes me is not just the stark, ethereal beauty, but how Atkins unwittingly tapped into ancient symbols. Consider the spiral form of the seaweed frond, a motif stretching back to prehistoric art. From the labyrinthine designs of Minoan Crete to the Celtic spirals adorning ancient stones, this shape embodies growth, evolution, and the cyclical nature of life. It is a symbol of the subconscious mind. This same spiral appears in the swirling tendrils of Renaissance depictions of Bacchus, god of wine and ecstasy, where it signifies liberation. Yet, here, rendered in the cool precision of science, the spiral takes on a new meaning. What was once ecstatic is now observed, classified, yet the primal symbolism persists, engaging our emotions on a subconscious level. This is the eternal return, the *Wanderung* of symbols. Thus, Atkins' seaweed, born of scientific curiosity, becomes a potent reminder of how images transcend time, echoing through our collective memory.