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| First layer of four of cucumber peel emulsion |
Anthotype comes from the Greek words for 'flower' and 'print'. It's one of the earliest forms of photography, from the early 19th century, where plant juices were used as the emulsion for creating a monoprint photo. For example, you could coat a piece of watercolour paper with the juice from a cucumber peel, then place objects (like leaves, petals and stems) on the paper and expose it to the sun for many hours (or often, days). The bleaching power of the sun will eventually lighten the background, and the part that was covered up will retain its more intense colour, creating a contrast print.
Anthotypes are not stable or longlasting, and I don't think there's a way to fix them (fixatives were developed later in the 19th century with the chemistry for silver-based and other analogue photographic films and prints). So if we want to keep a more permanent image of them, we have to take a more conventional modern digital or analogue photo! They are very cool though, in allowing for experimentation with different plant materials and thinners (water, alcohol, ...), and with variations. For example, did you know that a turmeric mixture will change from deep yellow to pinkish red if baking soda or soda water is added to it?
Here are process photos for my 'technique' in making the cucumber peel emulsion we'll use today: peel, chop, blend, strain, and then paint onto watercolour (fairly absorbent) paper, in several laters. Each experimental emulsion works a little differently, but this is a basic method. Looking forward to seeing how our prints come out!
