Anna Atkins’s Botanical Cyanotypes

This talk will highlight the work and artistic process of Anna Atkins (1799–1871), creator of the first photographically illustrated book. It will also explore the importance of Atkins’s photograms to scientific research and documentation in the 19th century.

This talk is offered in conjunction with the exhibition White Shadows: Anneliese Hager and the Camera-less Photograph, on view at the Harvard Art Museums through July 31, 2022.

Led by:
Lillianne Keaney, Harrison D. Horblit Photograph Librarian, Houghton Library

Penley Knipe, Philip and Lynn Straus Senior Conservator of Works on Paper, Head of Paper Lab, Harvard Art Museums

Please meet in the Calderwood Courtyard, in front of the digital screens between the shop and the admissions desk.

Please see the museum visit page to learn about our general policies for visiting the museum.