Exillaria crystallinum / parasitic [= Exilaria crystallinum] c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins made this cyanotype of Exillaria crystallinum algae sometime in the mid-19th century. The composition consists of delicate, ghostly white algae specimens against a vibrant, Prussian blue ground. The specimens, arranged as if floating, vary in size and density, creating a rhythm across the surface. Atkins' use of cyanotype, a process that renders objects as silhouettes, aligns her work with both scientific documentation and early photographic experimentation. The stark contrast between the detailed, ethereal algae and the deep blue calls attention to the very structure of representation. The work explores the play of positive and negative space, highlighting the absence as much as the presence of the subject. This print isn't simply a botanical record. It’s an exploration of form and light, anticipating later artistic movements that challenge our perceptions of reality and representation.