Cutleria multifida c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this image of Cutleria multifida, a type of seaweed, using cyanotype, an early photographic printing process. The technique, which involves placing objects directly onto photosensitive paper and exposing them to light, results in a distinctive Prussian blue image. Atkins created these photograms at a time when photography was still in its infancy. Unlike painting or drawing, where the artist mediates their subject, cyanotypes are made by directly interacting with light and chemistry. Atkins placed the seaweed directly on the prepared paper, each frond carefully arranged. The sun then did its work, creating a ghostly white silhouette against the rich blue background. The process involved a degree of scientific precision, yet it also allowed for a unique form of artistic expression. In using this technique, Atkins blurred the lines between art, science, and craft, creating an important document of botanical specimens, as well as an enduringly beautiful work of art.