Pygmy Hippopotamus, National Zoo, Washington, D.C. 1986

"Pygmy Hippopotamus, National Zoo, Washington, D.C." (1986) is a photograph by German artist Volker Seding (1943-2007) of a pygmy hippopotamus in a pool at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The photograph, part of Seding's larger series of zoo animal photographs, captures a sense of isolation and confinement, highlighting the contrast between the animal's natural habitat and its artificial environment. The stark, minimalist composition of the image, with its emphasis on the concrete walls and metal bars, adds to this sense of alienation, making it a powerful statement about the human relationship with nature.