Anthotype

A year ago in Thailand, during our trip with S7 Airlines, I witnessed how leaves could become paint. Returning home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and decided to explore this process—adapting it for photographic printing. That’s how I discovered anthotypes.

Anthotype is one of the most enigmatic printing techniques, invented in the 19th century. No chemicals—just plant juices; no instant results—only hours or even weeks under the sun.

For the past year, I’ve been experimenting with pigments (from spinach to beetroot), observing how light erases or fixes an image, and searching for ways to make the process more durable.

Now, I’m ready to share the first results and reveal how nature becomes a co-author of every artwork

Creating anthotype prints is a fascinating process that merges photography with plant science.

The key ingredients for these prints are anthocyanins – natural pigments responsible for the vibrant reds, purples, and blues found in many fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

In 1835, German pharmacist Ludwig Clamor Marquart first coined the term ‘anthocyan’ (later ‘anthocyanin’) for the chemical compound responsible for blue flower pigmentation in his treatise ‘Die Farben der Blumen’ (‘The Colors of Flowers’).

Anthocyanins are far more than simple colorants. These remarkable pigments are pH-sensitive, capable of dramatic color transformations depending on their acidic or alkaline environment:
• In acidic conditions – bright red hues
• In neutral to alkaline conditions – shifting through purple to deep blue