Conferva ulothrix / parasitic c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype, Conferva ulothrix / parasitic, in the mid-nineteenth century. The Prussian blue background is immediately striking, a rich, even tone that serves as both ground and atmosphere for the delicate white forms. These shapes, like ghostly botanical specimens, are studies of algae, their intricate details rendered with a sharp precision achieved through the cyanotype process. Atkins, working in a time when photography was still novel, used this medium to bridge art and science. Note how the arrangement of the specimens is not strictly scientific; instead, there is a rhythmic spacing, a visual cadence that elevates the image beyond mere documentation. The stark contrast between the blue and white is not only visually arresting, but creates a tension between positive and negative space, inviting us to consider the unseen. The way Atkins manipulates light and shadow, revealing and concealing the forms, destabilizes traditional notions of representation and truth. The image becomes a study in contrasts, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between nature, science, and art.