1843 Anna Atkins First Book of Photograms

Cyanotype: A New Lens for Exploring and Capturing the Complexity of Plant Life

Anna Atkins' groundbreaking publication in 1843 marked a pivotal moment in the history of both art and science. Her book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, is widely considered the first photographic book, composed entirely of photograms—images created without a camera. While figures like William Henry Fox Talbot were also experimenting with photogenic drawing around the same time, Atkins was the first to publish an entire volume of work using the cyanotype process. Talbot’s earlier experiments with salted paper and silver nitrate were foundational to photographic techniques, but Atkins’ innovative use of cyanotypes offered a more immediate and precise method for capturing botanical specimens.

By placing plants directly onto chemically treated paper and exposing them to sunlight, Atkins created detailed, life-sized impressions that were both scientifically accurate and visually captivating. This new technique not only recorded the intricate structures of algae and other plants with unparalleled fidelity but also expanded the possibilities for scientific documentation. Atkins' work blurred the lines between art and science, influencing future developments in photography, botany, and beyond. Her publication set a new standard for visual accuracy, establishing photography as a critical tool for both scientific inquiry and creative expression.

Credit: Anna Atkins, Photographs of British Algae. Cyanotype Impressions
Author: Anna Atkins
Title: Polysiphonia formosa
Date: c. 1843 - c. 1853
Archive: Rijksmuseum
Source: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search/objects?p=10&ps=12&f.principalMakers.name.sort=Anna+Atkins&st=Objects&ii=9#/RP-F-2016-133-233,117
Original: cyanotype, height 250 mm × width 200 mm
Available information: Purchased with the support of the BankGiro Lottery, the Familie W. Cordia/Rijksmuseum Fonds and the Paul Huf Fonds/Rijksmuseum Fonds.

Photographs of British Algae. Cyanotype Impressions, Anna Atkins, 1843 - 1853: total of 307 hand-made cyanotype plates, 260mm × w c.225mm × t 60mm, For each photograph, Anna Atkins placed a specimen of dried algae directly on a sheet of paper, exposed it to sunlight, and then rinsed the paper in a tray with water. Image credit left: Schizonema comoides, Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image credit middle: Nitophyllum ulvoideum, Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image credits from right: Thorea ramosissima, Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Author: Rijksmuseum; Credit line: Purchased with the support of the BankGiro Lottery, the Familie W. Cordia/Rijksmuseum Fonds and the Paul Huf Fonds/Rijksmuseum Fonds; Acquisition: purchase 4-Jan-2017; Copyright: Public domain; https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search/objects?set=RP-F-2016-133#/RP-F-2016-133,0