Polysiphonia fucoides c. 1843 - 1853

This cyanotype of *Polysiphonia fucoides* was created by Anna Atkins in the 19th century. A photogram of seaweed is set against a vibrant blue background. The details of the plant are captured in white lines, creating a ghostly yet precise image. Atkins, a botanist, ingeniously used cyanotype, an early photographic process, to document and classify botanical specimens. The stark contrast between the organic subject and the chemical process raises questions about the nature of representation itself. The cyanotype’s lines, in effect, are not just depictions but indexes—direct impressions of the algae. Atkins's approach challenged the conventional boundaries between science and art. She used photographic technology not just for documentation, but as a means of seeing and understanding the structure of the natural world, inviting us to reconsider how we categorize and interpret visual information.