Johanna Antonia Gerstenhauer Zimmerman

Johanna Antonia Gerstenhauer Zimmerman was a photographer who captured the essence of everyday life in 19th-century Rotterdam. This particular image shows two elephants in a small enclosure at the Rotterdam Zoo, or "Rotterdamsche Dierengaarde," as it was known. The simple composition highlights the animals and their enclosure, reflecting Zimmerman's keen eye for detail and her commitment to documenting the world around her. Her work offers a glimpse into the history of photography and the development of the zoo as a popular leisure destination.