Scolopendrium Vulgare
Medium
cyanotype
Dimensions
{"image":{"height":0.333,"width":0.229},"paper":{"height":0.483,"width":0.375},"matted":{"height":0.61,"width":0.508}}
Classification
Photograph
Department
Photography
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund
Accession Number
1995.26
Tags
About this artwork
In 1843, Anna Atkins produced the first book illustrated with photographs. The book was the earliest use of photography in a scientific publication. An amateur botanist, Atkins overcame the difficulties of making accurate drawings by placing plants directly on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to light. With these cameraless photographs, later called photograms, she was able to carefully record the basic elements of a plant's line, shape, and texture. This example illustrates a specimen of...