Lecture on Anna Atkins and the Cyanotype Process

Introduction

• Speaker: Susana Brown, Photograph Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum
• Location: The Photographs Store at the Victoria and Albert Museum
• Collection Size: About 800,000 photographs
• Environment: Carefully controlled temperature and humidity to preserve photographs
• Focus: Cyanotype images by Anna Atkins

Anna Atkins: A Pioneer in Photography

• Historical Significance:
  • Likely the first woman to create a photograph
  • Important botanist
  • Contributed to botanical science in Britain
• Born: 1799
• Connections:
  • Friend of astronomer Sir John Herschel
  • Known associate of William Henry Fox Talbot, regarded as the father of photography in Britain
  • Created the first photographically illustrated book using cyanotype

The Cyanotype Process

• Definition: A photographic printing process that uses iron salts, not a camera
• Inventor: John Herschel
• Procedure:
  • Paper coated with iron salts
  • Objects (e.g., plants, flowers) placed on paper
  • Exposed to sunlight to develop
  • Washed in water to reveal blue images
  • Areas where objects rested appear lighter
• Scientific Purpose:
  • Used by botanists for detailed plant recording
  • Offers exact size representation and unique outline/form

Anna Atkins' Work

• Botanical Focus:
  • Created cyanotypes of plants
  • Included Latin and common names of plants
• Artistic Elements:
  • Ghostly impression, similar to x-ray
  • Different color perception (blue instead of natural color)
  • Emphasizes different elements (e.g., outlines, textures)
• Personal Connection:
  • Related to pressing flowers in a flower press
  • Technique used by Atkins to prepare plants for cyanotype

Context of Photography in the 1840s

• Complex Process:
  • Required scientific knowledge and lengthy exposure times
  • More photographs of static subjects, e.g., plants, landscapes
• Safety: Cyanotype was simpler and safer compared to other chemical processes

Modern Applications

• Legacy:
  • Cyanotype still popular due to simplicity and safety
  • DIY kits available for personal use

Conclusion

• Invitation: Encouragement to experiment with cyanotype at home
• Appreciation: Understanding the significance of historical photography practices