Lemania fluviatilis [= Lemanea fluviatilis] c. 1843 - 1853

Editor: We’re looking at “Lemania fluviatilis” by Anna Atkins, created sometime between 1843 and 1853. It's a cyanotype, so an early form of photography. The stark white against the dreamy blue creates a kind of ghostly elegance. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, Atkins. I find this image profoundly poetic. To think she used this nascent technology not just to record, but to capture the *essence* of these river algae… it's like she’s not showing us, but whispering a secret. Do you notice how the tendrils almost dance on the blue? Editor: I do, it's almost as if they’re suspended in water, even though it’s a still image. Curator: Precisely. The cyanotype process lends itself to this ethereal quality, doesn’t it? Think about the scientific drive of the era combined with this delicate artistry… It reminds me of pressing flowers, an act of preservation mixed with affection. She made art out of science, and science out of observation. Were you aware that these photographs were bound into books? Editor: That makes the work even more incredible to me; it speaks to me about accessibility of her discovery for educational purposes. And it's like her own personal study! What have you found to be the most thought provoking about this artwork? Curator: Its simplicity, I think. Atkins reduces the complex form of the algae to these striking lines. It's a lesson, perhaps, in seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and finding art in every little hidden corner. A true pioneer, showing us how science and art are just different ways of seeing the same beautiful world. Editor: It’s definitely given me a new perspective on seeing art and science combined; like different sides to the same coin. Curator: Wonderful! That’s exactly the kind of connection I hope viewers take away. The world needs scientists with an artistic sensibility and artists with scientific curiosity.