Sphacelaria radicans c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype of Sphacelaria radicans, a type of seaweed, using a photographic printing process that results in a distinctive blue hue. The composition strikes a balance between scientific precision and artistic abstraction. The stark white, cloud-like forms of the seaweed float against the solid blue ground, creating a ghostly, ethereal quality. Each specimen is carefully arranged to highlight its delicate structure. Atkins’ method elevates the plant to a new level of observation and appreciation by employing photography, a scientific tool, in the service of art. The very process of cyanotype printing—placing the object directly onto sensitized paper and exposing it to light—foregrounds the object's form. By using this cameraless technique, Atkins challenges traditional modes of representation. This work functions not just as a botanical study, but also as an exploration of form, texture, and the relationship between art and science.