Opgezette steenarend 1871 - 1876

This is a photograph of a stuffed Golden Eagle, made by William Notman in Canada around 1868. Photography in the 19th century had a very different social role from today. It was a scientific tool as well as a method of documentation, and a form of middle-class entertainment. Notman was a commercial photographer. This particular image comes from a series of photographs of taxidermied birds, most likely intended for scientific study. Note the way the animal is posed in an unnatural way, on a small decorative pedestal. Look at the shadow in the background. How does this limit the image’s claims to realism? Such images remind us that photography has always served multiple purposes and been shaped by the demands of institutions and social expectations. A deeper understanding of this image requires careful attention to the history of photography and science in Canada. By consulting archives and written records, we can better understand the social forces that have shaped artistic production.