Poema in een kooi in de London Zoo c. 1850 - 1880

Frank Haes made this stereoscopic photograph, "Poem in a Cage in the London Zoo," at an unknown date using a camera and photographic printing process. These images became popular as inexpensive, mass-produced commodities in Britain during the Victorian era. This photograph invites us to consider the cultural dimensions of zoos in Victorian society. The London Zoo, founded in 1828, was initially intended for scientific study, aligning with Britain's expanding empire and colonial aspirations. The act of photographing a caged tiger is a visual statement about human dominance over the natural world. Stereoscopic images such as this one, though seemingly innocuous, reveal underlying assumptions about the relationship between humans and animals, and about Britain’s place in the world. Historians of photography and imperial history can provide deeper insights into the role of images such as this one in shaping public perceptions.