Calothrix confervicola / parasitic c. 1843 - 1853

This is a cyanotype made by Anna Atkins, a 19th-century British botanist and photographer, using a process that involves coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals. Atkins placed specimens of algae directly onto the prepared paper, and exposed them to sunlight. The areas shielded by the algae remained white, while the exposed paper turned a distinctive Prussian blue. This camera-less photographic technique, also known as a photogram, highlights the delicate forms and textures of the algae. The cyanotype process was relatively simple and inexpensive, aligning with the scientific pursuit of documentation. But it’s also worth considering that the making of this image involved a significant amount of handwork, from the careful preparation of the chemicals to the precise placement of the specimens, and the final presentation of the print. It is a blend of scientific accuracy and artistic sensibility, challenging conventional ideas about art and craft.