Anthotype

History

The photo-sensitive properties of plants and vegetables have been known to scholars for centuries. Among many early observations the experiments of Henri August Vogel in Paris are of particular interest. In 1816 he discovered that an alcoholic tincture of either red carnations, violets or corn poppy turned white behind blue glass in a few days, while it remained unchanged behind red glass after about the same time. Cotton and paper colored with these tinctures exhibited the same differences.

The anthotype process was discovered in 1839 by Sir John Herschel. Herschel referenced an experiment on October 11, 1839 in a paper published in 1840 at the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Herschel gave the anthotype process a proper introduction in his 1842 paper to the same institution. Mary Somerville built on Herschel's research and documented it in a letter to him dated 1845. Sir John Herschel presented her findings to the Royal Society, giving her full credit in his 1845 paper.

Herschel's research into making photographic images from flowers was limited and was ultimately abandoned since no commercial application was feasible from a process which takes days to produce an image.

The process continued to be listed in photographic literature of the time but was likely little used.

Over time the process earned a reputation for being too impractical. Image permanence have been brought into question, but this problem seems to be mostly related to choice of flower or plant matter.

How it works

It may also be observed, that the rays effective in destroying a given tint, are in a great many cases, those whose union produces a color complementary to the tint destroyed, or, at least, one belonging to that class of colors to which such complementary tint may be preferred. For instance, yellows tending towards orange are destroyed with more energy by the blue rays; blues by the red, orange and yellow rays; purples and pinks by yellow and green rays.|Henry H. Snelling}}

Other flower suggestions

Henry H. Snelling writes based on his research: "Viola odorata--or sweet scented violet, yields to alcohol a rich blue color, which it imparts in high perfection to paper. Senecio Splendens -- or double purple groundsel, yields a beautiful color to paper."

Bingham, quoting by Sir John Herschel, recommends Corchorus japonicus flower (japanese Jute) for a "fine yellow colour" that "upon exposure to sunlight, it is in about half an hour rendered quite white".

World Anthotype Day

World Antotype Day is celebrated on the last Saturday of October. Since 2022, it has brought together global community of artists to share prints and celebrate the anthotype process.

References

• Heritage-Tilley, Clive.
• Snelling, Henry H. The History and Practice of the Art of Photography. New York, 1849.
• Eder, Josef. The History of Photography. Dover Press, 1978

Literature

• Fabbri, M. Anthotypes: Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plants, ISBN 978-1466261006, 2012.

References

1. https://www.alternativephotography.com/anthotype-emulsions-1/, Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1, October 29, 2022, by Malin Fabbri
2. https://www.alternativephotography.com/anthotype-emulsions-2/, Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2, September 27, 2023, by Malin Fabbri
3. (13 August 2017). "Anthocyanidins and anthocyanins: colored pigments as food, pharmaceutical ingredients, and the potential health benefits". Food & Nutrition Research.
4. (10 December 2023). "Did Sir John Herschel or MRS Mary Somerville discover anthotypes?".
5. (1840). "I. On the chemical action of the rays of the solar spectrum on preparations of silver and other substances, both metallic and non-metallic, and on some photographic processes". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.
6. (1842). "On the Action of the Rays of the Solar Spectrum on Vegetable Colours, and on Some New Photographic Processes". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.
7. (1846). "VIII. On the action of the rays of the spectrum on vegetable juices. Extract of a letter from MRS. M. Somerville to Sir J. F. W. Herschel, Bart., dated Rome, September 20, 1845. Communicated by Sir J. Herschel". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.
8. (1849). "History and Practice of the Art of Photography - Chapter III". G. P. Putnam, New York.
9. Bingham, Robert J.. (1847). "Photogenic manipulation. containing the theory and plain instructions in the art of photography, or the production of pictures through the agency of light: including calotype, fluorotype, ferrotype, chromotype, chrysotype, cyanotype, catalissisotype and anthotype". London : George Knight and Sons.
10. https://www.alternativephotography.com/world-anthotype-day/