Rhodomenia bifida 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins made this photogram of Rhodomenia bifida, a type of red algae, in the mid-19th century using cyanotype, one of the earliest photographic printing processes. The cyanotype process involved coating paper with light-sensitive iron salts, placing the algae directly onto the surface, and exposing it to sunlight. The areas blocked by the algae remain white, while the exposed areas turn a distinctive Prussian blue. This direct contact method captures the delicate, branching structure of the algae with remarkable clarity. Atkins, a botanist, created this work as part of her project "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions," one of the first books illustrated entirely with photographs. In doing so, she wasn't just creating art. She was also documenting scientific specimens with a technology still in its infancy, blurring the boundaries between art, science, and craft. The deep blue hue, the texture of the paper, and the ghostly white outlines all speak to the experimental nature of her practice, and remind us of the innovative ways in which craft and technology can intersect.