Polysiphonia fruticulosa 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins created this cyanotype, Polysiphonia fruticulosa, in the mid-19th century. Atkins, a British botanist and photographer, is considered one of the first women photographers. Atkins lived during a time when scientific and artistic pursuits were largely dominated by men. Her photograms of algae were not only scientific recordings but also a quiet act of defiance, a woman claiming space in the realms of science and art. The intense Prussian blue evokes a sense of the sea, reflecting the specimens’ origin and perhaps the vastness of the then largely uncharted scientific waters that Atkins navigated. The photogram’s stark simplicity belies its revolutionary nature; it's a fusion of art, science, and the quiet assertion of a woman's place in both. Her work invites us to consider the contributions of those, especially women, whose legacies have been historically marginalized. It is a gentle, blue reminder of the unseen hands that have shaped our understanding of the world.