Ptilota plumosa 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins' "Ptilota plumosa" from her groundbreaking book "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions" showcases the artist's pioneering use of cyanotype, a photographic process she helped to popularize. This photogenic drawing, a type of early photographic print, captures the delicate detail of a seaweed specimen, rendered in shades of white and cyan against a vivid blue background. Atkins' work, created between 1851 and 1855, revolutionized botanical illustration and solidified her position as a leading figure in early photography.