Gezicht op een hertenkamp op het Belle Isle Park before 1889

This photograph by Shipley & Ladd captures a view of the deer park in Belle Isle Park. This image gives a glimpse into the late 19th or early 20th century use of public spaces. Parks like Belle Isle were envisioned as democratic spaces, yet access and experiences within them were often shaped by social class and race. The presence of a deer park speaks to a desire to create a carefully curated, picturesque landscape, a romanticized vision of nature that was in stark contrast to the industrializing urban environment. Consider for whom this park was designed, and who had the leisure time and means to enjoy it. Think about the labor required to maintain such spaces, and who performed that labor. While appearing idyllic, this image prompts us to question the social dynamics at play in the creation and consumption of public landscapes.