Leeuwin in een dierentuin in Londen c. 1879

This 1879 photograph by Thomas James Dixon showcases a lioness in a London zoo. The image is a classic example of Victorian era photography, capturing the majestic animal in a posed and somewhat formal manner. The lioness, likely a resident of the zoo, is captured in a relaxed posture, her gaze fixed on the viewer, and her powerful physique highlighted by the lighting. The photograph, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a reminder of the fascination with exotic animals during the Victorian era, and the role photography played in documenting these encounters.