Ectocarpus sphaerophorus Umbrella | Anna Atkins

Anna Atkins was a trailblazing British botanist and photographer, celebrated as the first person to publish a book illustrated entirely with photographic images. Her use of the cyanotype process — a striking deep-blue printing method — allowed her to create hauntingly beautiful impressions of seaweeds, ferns, and other botanical specimens.

In 1843, she self-published Photographs of British Algae, considered the first photographically illustrated book in history. Unlike conventional botanical illustrations, Atkins’ cyanotypes were both scientifically accurate and artistically ethereal, blurring the line between data and design.

Working at a time when photography was in its infancy and women were largely excluded from scientific discourse, Atkins quietly redefined both fields. She brought a unique visual poetry to her documentation, demonstrating that science could be elegant and art could be objective.

Today, her work is hailed not only as a milestone in photography, but also as a feminist and intellectual achievement — a testament to curiosity, innovation, and the often-unsung contributions of women to the history of ideas.