Polysiphonia affinis c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins, a pioneer of photography, created this cyanotype, "Polysiphonia affinis," circa 1843-1853. The work is part of her groundbreaking "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions," which documented various species of seaweed. The cyanotype process, where light-sensitive chemicals react to create a blue print, beautifully captures the delicate details of the seaweed's form, resulting in a ghostly, almost ethereal image.