Interview

W:  Hello Anna.  I’m happy that you could come for this interview.

A:  Well I am happy to be of service.  Although I am known for my contributions to art and science, as a woman, very little has been written about my personal life.

W:  Well, then, let’s get started!  First of all you seem to be best known for your work in photography.  What events in your early life sparked an interest in that?

A:  Well I suppose it starts when I was quite young.  My mother died only a year after giving birth to me.  It seems that she could not recover from childbirth, and because of this I was an only child.  My father, John George Children, remained strong throughout my childhood.  Without a mother we became very close to each other and have created a strong bond.  You see, I believe the same thing happened to my father.  I am grateful to him since he helped me find an interest in science as well as photography.

We created a lifelong bond from that experience.  We did many things together.  My father was a highly respected scientist.  I suppose its no surprise that I decided to help him with his work.  He instilled in me an appreciation for science which has lasted my whole life.  He has also given support to my talents which has greatly helped me.  My father played a great role in introducing me to photography.

W:  I guess your father had a very big impact on your life.  Was he a mentor to you in helping you develop your interests and talents?

A:  Why yes, I suppose he was.  When my mother died my father was left to take care of me since I was only an infant.  I was involved from an early age in the scientific activities of my father.  He helped me find an interest in science and especially botany.  I have a great fondness of botany.  It is from that fondness that I became involved in photography.  Previously I had helped my father on his project of his translation of Genera of Shells by hand drawing more than 250 shells to scientific standards of accuracy that were required for such an endeavor.  About sixteen years later when I first learned about cyanotypes, I thought that it would be easier to use the process to document scientific materials rather than the method of drawing I used while helping my father.

My father wasn’t my only mentor.  There were also others who inspired me.  My father had many contacts with the scientific world that helped me very much.  His contacts introduced me to William Henry Fox Talbot and John Hershel.  Talbot gave me some inspiring advice in 1841 that caused me to take up photography.  I learned of cyanotypes through Herschel.  Both of these men were greatly involved in the invention and development of photography.

W:  So Talbot and Herschel were the ones who introduced you to photography.  Photography sure has come a long way since your time.  What was the world of photography like when you entered it?

 A:  Well photography certainly has changed.  Back then we did things dramatically different for we had none of these strange fancy technologies.  Well, Talbot experimented with photographic processes making “photogenic drawings” (Badger, 2003).  In 1839 was the official announcement of the invention of photography.  I learned of the cyanotype shortly after this.  Herschel invented the cyanotype, or blueprint, as a simpler, less expensive, and more permanent photographic process than Talbot’s methods (Rosenblum, 2000).  I used cyanotypes many times through my photography work.

                My father and his circle of fellow scientists included Herschel and Talbot.  I was often aware of the group’s experiments with photography.  This increased my interest in photography and science.  Talbot’s “photogenic drawing” technique involved placing a flat object against a light sensitized sheet of paper, sometimes pressed beneath a sheet of glass to prevent movement and ensure a sharp image, and exposing it to sunlight until the area around the object began to darken.  Herschel developed cyanotypes later on was a major contribution to photography (Buckland, 1980).  Besides in the world of photography there were also social beliefs.  Women were typically only expected to stay to their housework and family affairs.  However, Botany and the study of algae, was one area of scientific endeavor where women were cautiously welcomed.

W:  How did cultural, economic, and political situations impact your work?

A:  In my time photography was a very new thing.  People were fascinated by it.  They became very interested in the science of photography as well.  Many people took it up as a pastime.  Although women were usually not allowed to do much many would practice photography as a hobby.  I thought I could use photography as a means of replicating scientific specimens more easily.  Photography is indeed a very intricate and complex process involving the use of light and chemicals.

                People used photography as a means of documenting the natural world.  They could document things more accurately.  People were also very curious about the natural world.  Through the use of photography they could learn and discover.  Scientific recording was also very important.   Women were welcomed in helping with the photographic process.  Women often enjoyed working through the photographic processes.

W:  What was your most famous accomplishment and what methods did you use?

A:  Well as I have said I have had a fondness for science, especially Botany.  This led me to collect various algaes of Great Britain.  I then used the collection for my book British Algae:  Cyanotype Impressions.   The book was my most famous work.  I have been recognized as the earliest woman photographer to produce the first book to use photographic illustrations.  It was also one of the first uses of light-sensitive materials to illustrate a book.  The book consisted of cyanotypes taken of my algae collection.

                I made the book privately to give to a few certain people.  It certainly seems to have been a great contribution to science.  I made the book entirely with cyanotypes.  Using the methods devised by Herschel, I created my cyanotypes by using paper that was impregnated which turned blue when exposed to light, and thus created the blueprints.  The whole process came rather easily to me as I had mastered it rather quickly.  I believe that my experience in drawing the shells, what with the patience, dedication and attention to detail, greatly helped me in my cyanotype project.  The entire project lasted from 1843 to 1853.

W:  What key events created turning points in your life and your work?

A:  Many things happened to change my life.  The most dramatic seems to be when I was quite young.  When my mother died I was too young to grasp the severity of such an event.  I am very thankful that my father was there.  He took care of me since I no longer had a mother.  The bond we created in that time has lasted our whole lives.  It has certainly encouraged me in my work.

                My father has encouraged and helped me in my work throughout my life.  Through his connection he introduced me to Talbot and Herschel.  This experience was a turning point in that it introduced me to photography.  Had I not known of photography I most likely would not be known.  My work with shells also prepared me for my later work with cyanotypes.  I suppose I have my father to thank for most of all these things.

W:  What choices did you make to become successful?

A:  It began with my interest in science.  Had I not learned of science who knows what I would be doing?  Helping my father with his scientific activities was also beneficial to me.  It increased my interest and introduced me to photography.  My interaction with Talbot and Herschel helped my success.  Had they not taught me of photography I would not have been using it for my science.  My father was involved with much of my success.

                My decision to help my father with his shell project proved beneficial to me.  The tedious process of hand drawing all those shells was helpful later on.  It gave me qualities essential for my cyanotype project.  It also made me receptive to the relative ease of photographic reproduction (Atkins, 1985).  Another choice that has done well for me was my marriage to John Pelly Atkins.  His name has helped to make me known.  I am known not as Anna Children, but as Anna Atkins.

W:  What hardships did you face in pursuit of your work?

A:  My mother died when I was young so that presented a problem.  I never knew my mother.  I am thankful to my father for his love.  His interests in science have affected me deeply.  The technologies available at the time were in a way limited.  Photographs were not incredibly detailed.  The complexities of photography also had a large chance of failures.  Photography required much patience, determination, and attention to detail.

                Being a woman I encountered many problems.  Women were sometimes unheard of to do what I have done.  Women were expected to do their housework and serve their families.  Still I was able to make my photography.  Being a woman was certainly hard in that time.  I was still able to succeed.  I overcame my hardships.

W:  What kind of limitations did you come across?

A:  Photography was by no means perfect when I used it.  The process of cyanotypes could not capture every detail.  Photography required many skills.  Materials were somewhat costly.  The large process created a high failure rate.  Photography has made many advances.  The technology I had still served me well.

                Being a woman also created limitations.  Women were expected to do housework.  I made time for my photography.  I could do so quite simply.  My photography intertwined with my science.  I was not afraid of being educated as some women of the time were.  I was careful to stay within the conventions of society while commanding full respect from my peers.

W:  Do you have any personal stories you would like to tell?

A:  I do not have many personal stories.  I have already told you most everything of my life.  My mother died when I was young.  My father took care of me.  He introduced me to science.  The interest I gained then introduced me to photography.  It also introduced me to Talbot and Herschel. 

                I created my book on British Algae using cyanotypes.  I was good at making them. I became known for my use of photography in documenting science.  I married my husband and became known as Anna Atkins rather than Anna Children.  That is my life.  There is nothing more for me to tell.

W:  Well then I guess that’s the end of our interview.  Thank you for your time Anna.

A:  You are welcome.

Bibliography

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