Enteromorphia compressa, ß prolifera 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins, a British botanist, created this cyanotype of Enteromorphia compressa algae in the mid-19th century. Atkins lived in a historical moment where science and art began to converge, and as a woman in Victorian England, her participation in scientific pursuits challenged traditional gender roles. She used the cyanotype process, an early photographic technique, to document and classify different species of algae. What might appear to be simply a scientific illustration is also a testament to Atkins' intellectual curiosity and determination in a male-dominated field. Consider how Atkins’s work allowed her to engage with the natural world, while also subtly subverting the expectations placed upon women of her time. The ethereal blue of the cyanotype highlights both the fragility and resilience of the algae, and perhaps mirrors the artist's own experiences.