Exillaria crystallinum parasitic 1851 - 1855

This photogram by Anna Atkins captures the Exillaria crystallinum parasitic algae in Prussian blue. In many cultures, aquatic plants symbolize adaptability, the interconnectedness of life, and the subconscious depths of human emotions, as they inhabit the liminal space between the known and the unknown. Consider the ancient Greek depictions of Poseidon, god of the sea, often adorned with seaweed, symbolizing his dominion over the fluid, ever-changing realms beneath the surface. Here, Atkins' artistic technique, positioning the algae directly onto treated paper and exposing it to sunlight, mirrors nature's own symbolic language. The blue mirrors the depths of the waters from which it came. These floating, ethereal impressions evoke a sense of mystery and the hidden beauty of the natural world. They tap into our collective unconscious, sparking a primeval connection to the origins of life and the mysteries of the deep.