Our new collection, inspired by the work of Anna Atkins (1799-1871).
A collaboration with the New York Public Library.
Worlds open up. Always. A constant flurry of curious human beings, their voices quite muffled from the years gone by, drift my way. I hadn’t heard the name Anna Atkins until the New York Public Library asked us to collaborate on a collection of treasures inspired by her work. I’ve been wrapped up in her ever since.
Anna Atkins was the first person to use photography to illustrate a book. Note – NOT the first woman, but the first human! She was an incredible illustrator and had illustrated some books for her father, but the discovery of Cyanotypes sent her into a new obsession. She began making photographic images of her extensive seaweed collection in 1843. She created thousands of cyanotypes and sent them to libraries and other institutions in the mid-1800s for their collections – many of which remain today, including, of course, the collection at the New York Public Library!
If you can make it to the New York City, stop in and see the exhibit!
