Calothrix distorta c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins created "Calothrix distorta" using cyanotype, a photographic printing process that gives the print its distinctive cyan-blue hue. The composition is sparse, dominated by the monochromatic field where a delicate, ghostly image of algae floats, seemingly suspended in the cerulean expanse. The striking use of scale allows the minute details of the algae to be examined closely. Atkins, influenced by scientific documentation, employed a technique that mirrors structuralist principles, turning the algae into a signifier of both scientific accuracy and aesthetic form. The texture of the print, a result of the cyanotype process, adds another layer, disrupting any clear boundary between art and science. Atkins destabilizes traditional artistic conventions by prioritizing direct representation of the natural world. Consider how this unique blend of science and art challenges our preconceived notions about where objective observation ends and subjective interpretation begins.