Polysiphonia fibrata 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype, Polysiphonia fibrata, in England sometime in the mid-19th century. Atkins was a botanist, and this image is part of her effort to document different species of algae. But let's consider this image in its broader context: this was a period of intense scientific discovery and classification. Thinkers were attempting to bring order to the natural world through categorization. Yet, this print is a handmade object, produced by a woman at a time when scientific institutions were dominated by men. In its way, Atkins' work quietly challenged those established hierarchies. Historians can consult botanical records, institutional archives, and feminist histories of science to learn more. This cyanotype, then, is more than just a scientific record; it's a document of its time, reflecting the complex interplay of science, society, and gender.