Not currently on view
In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026
FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG
In 1843, Anna Atkins produced the first book illustrated with photographs. The book was the earliest use of photography in a scientific publication. An amateur botanist, Atkins overcame the difficulties of making accurate drawings by placing plants directly on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to light. With these cameraless photographs, later called photograms, she was able to carefully record the basic elements of a plant's line, shape, and texture. This example illustrates a specimen of Scolopendrium Vulgare , also known as Hart's-Tongue fern.
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Anna Atkins — Enteromorpha intestinalis
William Henry Fox Talbot — Stem of Leaves and Flowers
Anna Atkins — Ulva latissima
Sebastiano Tassinari — [Photogenic Drawing from Leaf]
Sebastiano Tassinari — [Photogenic Drawing from Leaf]
Anna Atkins — Spiraea aruncus (Tyrol)
Anna Atkins — Ulva bullosa
Anna Atkins — Desmarestia liqulata
Anna Atkins — Schizonema comoides
Anna Atkins — Polysiphonia violacea
Anna Atkins — Codium bursa
Anna Atkins — Schizonema Dillwynii