Cyanotype Prints

What is a ...................... cyanotype print.

The classic Prussian Blue print one of the earliest photographic processes.

Sir John Herschel invented photographic contact-printing in Prussian Blue in 1842, and named it “cyanotype”.

Cyanotypes were initially used by amateur botanists for the purposes of plant illustration and were very popular among pictorialists in Victorian England.

Photographers also used the process as an easy option for proofing negatives. By the 1880’s, until the mid-1950’s, it had become the chief process for copying drawings and gave us a new word, “the blueprint”.

With its powerful blue aesthetic, it was not until the last two decades of the 20th century that cyanotypes were accepted as a pictorial medium. Cyanotypes are gaining increased popularity.

For over 170 years since the 19th century cyanotypes have created images of exceptional beauty:

the prints are hand coated with a simple light sensitive solution that is embedded upon and within the surface of the paper
prints can be exposed with the sun and also printed as photograms
simple development with water and or a dilute acid
printed on a selection of fine art printmaking papers

For more information on Cyanotype printing or links to more comprehensive sites regarding alternative processes:

CONTACT: Ralph Rinke - Photographer
ralphrinke@telus.net

Decor images on view @ https://www.instagram.com/ralphrinke/