John Dominis (American, 1921-2013). Leopard About to Kill a Terrified Baboon, Botswana, Africa, 1966. Oversized dye tran...

Description

John Dominis (American, 1921-2013)
Leopard About to Kill a Terrified Baboon, Botswana, Africa, 1966
Oversized dye transfer print, printed late 1970s
21 x 39 inches (53.3 x 99.1 cm) (image/sheet)
Signed in pencil, titled in wax pencil, mount verso.

PROVENANCE:
The artist;
Ken Lieberman, owner of Ken Lieberman Labs;
Private collection, acquired from the above.

LITERATURE:
Life Magazine, January 6, 1967, The Great Cats of Africa.

Ken Lieberman Labs was one of the few photography labs capable of producing dye-transfer prints, a time-consuming and difficult process, in sizes this large.

This photograph by John Dominis has remained controversial because of the ethical questions tied to its making. The dramatic scene-depicting a leopard about to attack a baboon-quickly gained recognition for its unflinching portrayal of nature's violence. Yet the image's authenticity was later called into question when Dominis acknowledged that it had been staged: a hunter had released a captured leopard into a troop of baboons for the shot. Once this became known, Dominis faced significant criticism and later expressed regret, explaining that staging photographs was a common and accepted practice in the 1960s.


More information about Dominis, John Artist.

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