Ectocarpus distortus c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype of Ectocarpus distortus in the mid-19th century, using a process that bypassed the need for a camera. Atkins placed the seaweed directly onto paper treated with iron salts. Exposed to sunlight, the paper turned blue, except where the plant blocked the light. After washing, what remained was a ghostly white silhouette against a rich blue ground. This photogram, as it’s known, resulted from a simple chemical reaction, but it also speaks to a larger cultural moment. In the Victorian era, there was an enormous appetite for cataloging the natural world. Photography was initially embraced as a tool for scientific documentation. But in Atkins's hands, the method transcended pure utility. Her images possess a stark beauty that challenges traditional boundaries between art and science, reminding us that even the most technical processes can yield surprisingly expressive results.