Rhodomela lycopodoides [= Rhodomela lycopodioides] c. 1843 - 1853

This image of Rhodomela lycopodioides is a cyanotype made by Anna Atkins in the mid-nineteenth century. It’s a photogram, made by placing seaweed directly onto sensitized paper and exposing it to light, resulting in a negative image in Prussian blue. Now, cyanotypes may seem like a relatively simple process, but they were at the cutting edge of photographic technology at the time. Think about the labor involved here. Atkins had to meticulously collect and arrange the seaweed specimens. Then she carefully prepared the paper with light-sensitive chemicals and precisely exposed the arrangements to sunlight to create the print. The physical arrangement of the specimen is crucial. This piece combines scientific precision with artistic vision. By embracing the cyanotype process, Atkins not only documented the natural world but also challenged the conventional boundaries between science, art, and craft.