Baby Hippopotamus, Gelsenkirchen, Germany 1989

"Baby Hippopotamus, Gelsenkirchen, Germany" (1989) by Volker Seding is a photograph that captures a baby hippopotamus lying in its enclosure at a zoo. The image is taken from a low angle, emphasizing the bars of the cage and the animal's confinement. The overall tone of the photograph is somber, highlighting the stark contrast between the animal's natural habitat and its artificial environment. Seding's work often explored themes of human interaction with animals and the often-uncomfortable realities of captivity. This photograph, a part of his series "Zoo," invites viewers to contemplate the ethics of keeping wild animals in zoos.