Polysiphonia Grevillii [= Polysiphonia Greville] c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins created this cyanotype titled 'Polysiphonia Grevillii' using a photographic printing process that gives the print a distinctive cyan-blue hue. The composition features a delicate seaweed specimen set against this intense monochromatic background. Atkins’ decision to foreground the form and structure of the algae invites close observation of its branching pattern and fine details. The stark contrast between the white of the seaweed and the deep blue emphasizes shape and texture, almost detaching it from its natural context. Stripped of colour variation, the image prompts a reading of the specimen as an abstract form, a study in line and space. The photogram transforms the seaweed into a sign, inviting questions about the nature of representation and the relationship between art and science. The aesthetic dimension of the work lies in the subtle interplay of light and shadow, turning a scientific document into a visual poem.