Martha Madigan, [Untitled] 2007.34.120

To make a cyanotype, the artist places objects directly on photosensitive paper. When exposed to light, the paper darkens, and the silhouettes of the objects and their shadows appear in the color of the unexposed paper. Here, Madigan creates a cyanotype landscape on a monumental scale, placing plastic bags on the photosensitive paper to create floating, cloud-like forms. Shadows are also cast by a chain-link fence and plant materials along the bottom margin of the image.