A Short History of Cyanotype by Emily Sheffer
A Short History of Cyanotype explores how invention of photography was influenced by the fields of chemistry, botany, and astronomy, and driven a social circle that included Henry Fox Talbot, John Herschel, and Anna Atkins.
Using the earliest photographic processes, Henry Fox Talbot made dozens of botanical prints. John George Children, a botanist, studied Talbot’s prints, and shared them with his daughter, Anna Atkins.
In 1842, British astronomer John Herschel invented cyanotype printing. In under a year, Anna Atkins began her photographic work.
Today, Anna Atkins is acknowledged as the first female photographer, and her work, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions (1843) is considered the first photographically illustrated book.
This book was made during the Maine Media Workshops and College Book Arts Residency in 2019. Select images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The New York Public Library.
This book was made during the Maine Media Book-Artist-in-Residence program.
More Details
Edition of 10
8.5” x 11”
Four hand bound soft cover books in a custom box
Letterpress text by Richard Reitz Smith
Designed by Emily Sheffer
Published by Dust Collective
Autumn 2019
About the Artist
Emily Sheffer is a photographic artist, educator, and book designer.
She is the founder of Dust Collective, a handmade and small edition photography book publisher.
Emily is the studio director for Barbara Bosworth. In 2024, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Hartford.
Emily earned her MFA in photography from The University of Hartford, and BFA in photography from The Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Massachusetts.
A Short History of Cyanotype explores how invention of photography was influenced by the fields of chemistry, botany, and astronomy, and driven a social circle that included Henry Fox Talbot, John Herschel, and Anna Atkins.
Using the earliest photographic processes, Henry Fox Talbot made dozens of botanical prints. John George Children, a botanist, studied Talbot’s prints, and shared them with his daughter, Anna Atkins.
In 1842, British astronomer John Herschel invented cyanotype printing. In under a year, Anna Atkins began her photographic work.
Today, Anna Atkins is acknowledged as the first female photographer, and her work, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions (1843) is considered the first photographically illustrated book.
This book was made during the Maine Media Workshops and College Book Arts Residency in 2019. Select images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The New York Public Library.
This book was made during the Maine Media Book-Artist-in-Residence program.
More Details
Edition of 10
8.5” x 11”
Four hand bound soft cover books in a custom box
Letterpress text by Richard Reitz Smith
Designed by Emily Sheffer
Published by Dust Collective
Autumn 2019
About the Artist
Emily Sheffer is a photographic artist, educator, and book designer.
She is the founder of Dust Collective, a handmade and small edition photography book publisher.
Emily is the studio director for Barbara Bosworth. In 2024, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Hartford.
Emily earned her MFA in photography from The University of Hartford, and BFA in photography from The Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Massachusetts.
A Short History of Cyanotype explores how invention of photography was influenced by the fields of chemistry, botany, and astronomy, and driven a social circle that included Henry Fox Talbot, John Herschel, and Anna Atkins.
Using the earliest photographic processes, Henry Fox Talbot made dozens of botanical prints. John George Children, a botanist, studied Talbot’s prints, and shared them with his daughter, Anna Atkins.
In 1842, British astronomer John Herschel invented cyanotype printing. In under a year, Anna Atkins began her photographic work.
Today, Anna Atkins is acknowledged as the first female photographer, and her work, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions (1843) is considered the first photographically illustrated book.
This book was made during the Maine Media Workshops and College Book Arts Residency in 2019. Select images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The New York Public Library.
This book was made during the Maine Media Book-Artist-in-Residence program.
More Details
Edition of 10
8.5” x 11”
Four hand bound soft cover books in a custom box
Letterpress text by Richard Reitz Smith
Designed by Emily Sheffer
Published by Dust Collective
Autumn 2019
About the Artist
Emily Sheffer is a photographic artist, educator, and book designer.
She is the founder of Dust Collective, a handmade and small edition photography book publisher.
Emily is the studio director for Barbara Bosworth. In 2024, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Hartford.
Emily earned her MFA in photography from The University of Hartford, and BFA in photography from The Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Massachusetts.