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The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs
48 pp.
| Abrams |
February, 2019 |
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-2551-7$17.99
(4)
K-3
Robinson's poetic biography of pioneering nineteenth-century botanist and photographer Anna Atkins unfortunately fictionalizes historical gaps--mainly regarding Atkins's childhood relationship with her father--with sentimental informed guesses. But the blue-hued illustrations sit alongside reproductions of Atkins's sketches and cyanotypes, resulting in blueprint-like illustrations that evoke nineteenth-century aesthetics while providing a clear picture of Atkins's work. An author's note and cyanotype instructions are included. Bib.