Elephant with Riders n.d.

Auguste André Lançon made this print, "Elephant with Riders," in the 19th century using etching and engraving. The image speaks to the culture of leisure in Europe at that time. Traveling zoos and menageries were popular forms of public entertainment. The architecture of the scene resembles that of a zoological garden. The presence of well-dressed middle-class ladies points to the increasing integration of public spaces and the performance of social class. During this period, zoological gardens were centers for both public entertainment and scientific study. But the presentation of animals also served to reinforce assumptions of European superiority through the display of exotic creatures from colonized lands. Art historians rely on period sources such as newspapers and guidebooks to understand the context of this and similar images. It shows us that art’s meaning is closely tied to its social and institutional setting.