Buffalo 1873

C. Seaver, Jr. made this stereo photograph of a buffalo in Washington D.C., in 1872. It's an albumen print mounted on card stock. Stereographs like this one were a popular form of entertainment in the late 19th century. Viewed through a special device, they created a three-dimensional effect. The institutional context is foregrounded here. The photo's imprinted text tells us the image was created by the Smithsonian Institute, a federal organization dedicated to science, art, and history, and its status is further cemented through the notice of copyright, suggesting it may be reproduced through the Library of Congress. In the late 19th century, the American bison was nearing extinction due to overhunting and habitat loss. Placing the image in the context of this cultural history allows us to consider it not only as entertainment but as a commemorative artifact and a historical record. Further research into the archives of the Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress might reveal more about Seaver's intentions in creating this image.