Codium tomentosum 1851 - 1855

Anna Atkins created this cyanotype, Codium Tomentosum, one of the earliest examples of photography, using a technique that renders the seaweed in a ghostly white against a vibrant blue ground. Consider how, across cultures, the branching form of plants carries symbolic weight, often representing family trees, lineages, or the interconnectedness of life itself. In ancient mythologies, trees were seen as pathways between the earthly and divine realms. Here, the alga echoes the same sentiment: although they reside in the depths of the ocean, their forms are no different from the trees that have shaped our cultural imagination. Like the Tree of Life, this seaweed, frozen in a moment by Atkins’ lens, encourages us to reflect on nature's deep, enduring patterns. Its ethereal presence invites contemplation of our connection to the natural world. It also evokes our collective memory as a potent symbol of life's fragile yet persistent beauty.