Anna Atkins was a British botanist and photographer who created beautiful blue-and-white images of plants and seaweed. She used a photographic technique called cyanotype to capture the delicate shapes and textures of natural forms. Her work brings together art and science, showing how careful observation and simple compositions can turn an everyday specimen into a fascinating image.
Anna Atkins was interested in studying and recording plants at a time when photography was still a new invention.
In 1843, she began publishing Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, a remarkable book illustrated with photographic images. Instead of drawing every tiny branch of seaweed by hand, she placed specimens directly onto specially prepared paper and used light to record their shapes.
Some examples of the cyanotype photograms made by Anna Atkins:
At the time, she wrote to a friend, explaining:
The difficulty of making accurate drawings of objects as minute as many of the Algae and Confera, has induced me to… obtain impressions of the plants themselves.
The book was the first ever to be entirely illustrated with photographs. The work demonstrated her passion for science, art, beauty and technological experimentation.
Anna Atkins became increasingly interested in precisely and methodically documenting the plants, seaweed and algae.
At a time when women were not allowed to pursue scientific interests, she used both science and art to create beautiful, highly accurate images of botanic specimens using photographic techniques.
What are Cyanotypes?
A cyanotype is an image made using light–sensitive chemicals. An object is placed on chemical coated paper, which is exposed to light and then washed. The exposed areas turn a deep blue, while the shapes shielded from the light remain pale. The result is called a photogram because no camera is needed to create the image.
The chemicals used in cyanotypes are Ferric Ammonium Citrate (Light-sensitive iron salt) and Potassium Ferricyanide (Red iron salt) 🧂🧪
This video is really good at showing and explaining how cyanotypes work:
Atkins arranged seaweed, ferns and other plants so their outlines and fine details were clearly visible. The results she achieved were outstanding – delicate, fragile and perfectly accurate images of algae on a deep blue background, which is reminiscent of their natural, fluid habitats.
Top Facts about botanist and photographer Anna Atkins:
- She was born in Kent, England in 1799, and her mother died in 1800
- Her father was a chemist, mineralogist, and zoologist. So Anna received an unusually scientific education for a woman at that time
- She was always interested in botany (plants and flowers), and elected as a member of the London Botanical Society in 1839
- Anna Atkins is widely regarded as the first ever female photographer – but it’s difficult to prove!
- She worked with more than 400 algae specimens and arranged them all on the paper to capture
- After recording seaweed and algae, she started using the same process on plants such as ferns
- Only 17 copies of her books are still known to exist, with one selling for £229,250 in 2004
Do you know what the word BOTANY means? 💡 Click here to find out!
Botany is a branch of biology dedicated to plants 🌱 Botanists study plants, including their structure, properties, and biochemical processes.
Look at one of Atkins’s cyanotypes and consider the use of positive and negative space. The pale plant appears to stand out against the rich blue background. Notice how the thin stems branch into smaller and smaller shapes. Some specimens look almost like lace or delicate drawings.
Why do you think Atkins often chose a simple composition with plenty of space around the subject? What other items, specimens or objects would make good cyanotype images? Why?
Although Anna Atkins’ images were made to record scientific specimens, they are also beautiful examples of the formal elements of line, shape, pattern and contrast.
You can learn more about the Formal Elements of Art here.
Teachers – there is also a Formal Elements project for you to use in your classrooms!
The limited colour palette helps us focus on the structure, shape and details of the plant. Atkins’s work is particularly useful when investigating natural forms, photography, silhouettes or the relationship between art and science.
As well as making cyanotypes, Atkins also drew natural forms such as shells and clams for one of her dad’s scientific books.
Before photography, scientists had to write long, detailed descriptions of their specimens, and try to draw them out as accurately as possible. But nothing was as accurate as Atkins’ way of documenting through cyanotypes.
By using the latest technology, she created something never seen before in the publishing world!
Which do you think are more successful, the cyanotypes or the drawings made by Anna Atkins? Why?
Teaching Anna Atkins? This free interactive artist research quiz helps art students explore Anna Atkins’s drawing techniques and photography through knowledge questions, close looking, artwork comparisons and a creative drawing activity. Suitable for art lessons or independent study.
Anna Atkins
Art Detective Quiz
Explore the artwork, follow the clues and make something of your own.
Have you REALLY finished this whole quiz in less than 15 minutes?!
Think about your written responses and your artwork before deciding.
There's still time to improve your work!
There's still a little time left before you can submit your quiz.
Use this time to check your answers and add more detail to your drawing. The 15 minutes is a minimum, not a deadline. Take longer if you need to.
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Would you like to create your own cyanotypes?
Here’s a cyanotype kit with all you need:
During the 1850’s, Atkins also began to photograph entirely different subjects… She explored flowers, feathers, and lace, making them into prints with detailed compositions, subtle layering, and a range of textures.
Once she no longer had to be strictly scientifically accurate, she focused more on how things looked: the compositions focused on line and shape, color and space, and what was clear or see-through versus what was solid. Even so, Atkins and her groundbreaking photographs were almost completely forgotten by the late 19th century.
What do you think of these images created by Anna Atkins? What about how she mixed science and art? Let me know in the comments!
