Cyanotype workshops at De Meevaart teach camera-free photography

Cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic techniques, and it makes an image without a camera, lens or printer.

Visual artist Henri Blommers will teach it at De Meevaart over six Monday mornings in November and December, in a workshop series called ‘Blauwdruk van het Onverwachte’.

Objects, plants or leaves are laid directly on light-sensitive paper and exposed to sunlight or another UV light source.

Where the light reaches the paper, a deep blue appears after developing, and the covered areas stay lighter.

You don’t need a digital camera or a traditional darkroom.

A technique from 1842

English scientist and astronomer John Herschel developed the process in 1842.

From the 1840s, British botanist Anna Atkins used it to make detailed prints of algae and plants.

It was later used to copy architectural and technical drawings, which is where the word blueprint comes from.

Dates, cost and registration

No experience with photography or art is needed.

Each week covers a different part of the technique, and the participants work together towards a final piece in textile.

Sessions run from 10:00 to 12:00 on Mondays 9, 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 and 14 December, at Balistraat 48A.

To keep the series affordable for people in the neighbourhood, all six mornings together cost €15. There is room for up to 15 participants.

Registration by email is open until 6 November, and it closes earlier if the group fills up.

More workshop series are planned for February.

Between the two series there will be an open workshop where participants can try out different techniques, and guest makers will sometimes be invited to share their knowledge.

For more places like De Meevaart, see our guide to Amsterdam’s cultural centres.

Source: Oost Online