Wapiti Deer, Dervas Canadensis c. 19th century

Curator: This stereograph card, titled "Wapiti Deer, Dervas Canadensis," was photographed by F. York at the London Zoological Gardens. The image presents two nearly identical views of the deer. Editor: My first thought is how small and sad it makes me feel. The deer looks so contained, and the duplication only emphasizes that. Curator: Indeed, stereographs like this were quite popular, offering viewers a sense of depth. Zoos themselves were also hugely popular, reflecting Victorian society’s fascination with collecting and classifying the natural world. Editor: Right, but consider the labor involved in constructing that enclosure, hauling the materials, and maintaining the zoo. It presents an ordered vision of nature but masks the cost and control inherent in its creation. Curator: That’s a fair point. This image, though seemingly simple, captures a complex moment in our history with our relationship to nature. Editor: Agreed. Analyzing the materials and production reveals how constructed, and controlled, this seemingly natural scene really is.