Third-year English undergraduate students taking ENL3095 ‘Literature and the Visual 1770-1900’ visited the print studio on campus last month to experiment with making cyanotype prints. This hands-on session introduced them to the process of cyanotype printing but also explored the legacy of the pioneering Victorian photographer, Anna Atkins. Born in 1799, Atkins was a botanist and artist who used the cyanotype process to document plant specimens. In 1843, she published Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, the first book to be illustrated with photographs. Her work not only contributed to the fields of botany and photography but also paved the way for future generations of female photographers.

Cyanotype printing is a photographic process that produces blue prints using UV light. This technique involves coating a surface, typically paper or fabric, with a light-sensitive solution of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. When exposed to UV light, the coated surface develops a rich cyan-blue colour. In the Victorian period, Atkins would have used sunlight; on a cloudy day in spring, we could use the UV unit in the print studio.

During the workshop, students learned to coat their chosen materials, and expose their prints using the UV unit. They experimented with various objects like leaves, flowers, and seed pods, and created their own negatives based on drawings of botanical forms.

Cyanotype printing is considered relatively eco-friendly compared to many other photographic processes. It uses non-toxic chemicals like ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide, which are generally safe to handle with basic precautions. Unlike traditional photographic methods, cyanotype does not require harsh developers, fixers, or solvents, reducing its environmental footprint. (The rinse water from cyanotype prints is typically safe to wash down domestic drains in small amounts.)

Thanks to the students for coming along and experimenting, and to Sian Kirman-Wright, our Photography and Printmaking Technician for her help!

– Laura Gill