Indian Rhinoceros, National Zoo, Washington D.C. Possibly 1986 - 1988

"Indian Rhinoceros, National Zoo, Washington D.C." is a photograph by Volker Seding, taken sometime between 1986 and 1988. The photograph depicts a rhinoceros, seen through a series of metal bars, its thick skin and bulky form contrasting sharply with the enclosure's stark concrete walls. Seding's work often focused on the realities of captivity, raising questions about human-animal interactions and the ethics of zookeeping. This photograph, with its simple composition and direct gaze, powerfully conveys the animal's isolation and confinement. The use of black and white further emphasizes this theme, creating a sense of melancholy and introspection.