Ceramium rubrum 1851 - 1855

"Ceramium rubrum" is a cyanotype photograph created by Anna Atkins between 1851 and 1855. Atkins was a pioneer of photography and one of the first to use the cyanotype process, which she used to document the different species of algae and ferns she collected. The image depicts a delicate, branching seaweed specimen in stark white against a deep blue background, showcasing the intricate detail of the plant's structure. This work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the early use of photography as a scientific tool and as a means of artistic expression.