"A certain blue enters your soul". - Henry Matisse

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Cyanotype is a Victorian photographic process that produces prints with a distinctive prussian blue colour.

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The process was first developed in 1842 by the scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel.

 

Anna Atkins was an English botanist and photographer who made cyanotype prints between 1843- 1853. She is often considered the first person to illustrate a book with photographic images.

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To create a Cyanotype (also known as Sun Printing), a light sensitive solution (a mixture of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide) is applied to water colour paper or fabric. Natural plant material is positioned on top and then exposed to sunlight or a UV light source. Once exposed, the print is then rinsed, resulting in beautiful blue toned images.