Viewpoints is a recurring series that highlights works from the Henry collection, paired with responses from the University of Washington community.

Richard Learoyd (U.K., b. 1966) is a photographer known for his use of a room-sized camera obscura of his own invention. Learoyd exposes singular, completely grainless, and incredibly lifelike images that explore notions of photographic truth and the transformative nature of the imaging process. His work makes reference to the art historical canon, examining traditional genres of painting such as still life, nudes, and landscapes.

This Viewpoints presentation features Learoyd’s large-scale photograph of a dead grey reef shark in the Henry’s permanent collection. This photograph draws from lineages of scientific photography and still life across media, resulting in a picture that surfaces entanglements between traditions of imaging and practices of extraction from land, people, and other living creatures. Reflections from members of the UW community across Art History, Anthropology, and Marine Biology will examine these intersecting histories and contexts.

Learn more about the Henry's collection here.