[Two Stags, One Shot by Mr. Ross and the Other by Mrs. Ross] 1858

Horatio Ross made this oval photograph, 'Two Stags, One Shot by Mr. Ross and the Other by Mrs. Ross', using paper and albumen. The composition is immediately striking; a carefully arranged tableau of two stags lying near a stream, one with a rifle laid across it. The tonal range is limited, creating a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Ross’s manipulation of light and shadow renders the textures of fur and foliage with tactile realism, emphasizing the materiality of the scene. The photograph engages with the Victorian obsession with hunting and the romantic idealization of nature. However, the deliberate arrangement of the stags and the inclusion of the rifle introduces a level of artifice. The semiotic interplay between the natural and the artificial prompts us to question our relationship with the natural world and the power dynamics inherent in the act of hunting. The composition's circular form acts as a lens, not only framing the scene but also inviting us to reflect on our own perspective and the cultural codes that shape our understanding of nature and sport.