Conferva scutulata / 1. Tufts more or less perfectly detached / 2. D[itt]o growing on Himanthalia Lorea c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype of Conferva scutulata, a type of algae, in the mid-19th century, part of her larger project to document British algae using this new photographic process. Atkins' work exists at the intersection of science, technology, and art. In Victorian England, science was increasingly professionalized, yet women were often excluded from formal scientific institutions. Photography, however, offered a space for women like Atkins to contribute to scientific knowledge. Her choice of cyanotype, a relatively inexpensive and accessible process, democratized image production. Looking at this image, we might consider the politics of scientific representation, the role of women in science, and the democratizing potential of photography. Understanding Atkins' work requires considering its historical context, including the social structures that shaped scientific practice and artistic production. Through archival research and historical analysis, we can better understand the complex meanings embedded in this seemingly simple image.