Look at these amazing cyanotypes by the amateur botanist anna atkins (1799-1871). "Her goal in producing Photographs of British Algae was to provide a visual companion to William Harvey's pioneering but unillustrated 1841 publication Manual of British Algae; to that end, Atkins's specimen titles follow Harvey's nomenclature...Following the conclusion of British Algae, Atkins explored the cyanotype medium for more personal expression, creating assemblages of flowers and plants in elegant and sometimes whimsical designs. In some of her scientific plates one catches a glimpse of her ability to compose an arrangement in defiance of anything found in nature." Ok, so now I'm on a mission. I want to see those assemblages, thank you very much. But until then, I'll be enjoying these beauties.
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