Polysiphonia parasitica 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins' cyanotype print, "Polysiphonia parasitica," is a beautiful example of her groundbreaking work in documenting botanical specimens through photography. This 1851-1855 image, created using a process that captures light-sensitive iron salts on paper, depicts the delicate branches of a red alga, "Polysiphonia parasitica," against a vibrant blue background. Atkins' use of the cyanotype process, which she perfected, allowed for a precise and detailed representation of the algae's intricate structure, making this a valuable contribution to the field of scientific illustration. Her work helped advance photography as a means of scientific documentation, laying the groundwork for future photographic explorations in the natural world.