Polysiphonia thuyoides c. 1843 - 1853

"Polysiphonia thuyoides" is a cyanotype photograph by Anna Atkins, a pioneering female photographer, made between 1843 and 1853. The image showcases a delicate, branching seaweed, its intricate structure rendered in white against a vibrant blue background. This image is one of many in Atkins' groundbreaking book "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions", marking a significant contribution to both botanical illustration and photographic art. Atkins' cyanotype technique, which captured the details of the seaweed with precision and beauty, earned her a place in photographic history.