Information Sheet: Nature Printing

Cyanotype process

- Developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871) - English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, and experimental photographer, who also did valuable botanical work. Herschel also coined the term ‘photography’ in 1839.

- Used by Anna Atkins in 1843 to illustrate her book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions – the first book ever illustrated using photographic images.

- Cyanotypes were made by coating paper in light-sensitive chemicals (ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide), initially (and long into the 20th century) to produce low-cost copies of drawings and diagrams (blueprints).

Anna Atkins

- Born in Tunbridge, Kent in 1799 and “received an unusually scientific education for a woman of her time” due to the influence of her father, John George Children, a chemist, mineralogist and zoologist.

- Had a strong interest in botany, collecting many samples and being admitted to the London Botanical Society in 1839.

- Developed an interest in photography partly influenced by her friendship with photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), who developed his ‘photogenic drawing’ technique partly due to his frustration at his inability to paint scenes as his sisters did.

John Herschel Anna Atkins William Henry Fox Talbot