Thomas Hoepker

This is a photograph by Thomas Hoepker. There is a division down the center of the photograph, a thick cement wall separating the two halves of the frame. On the left lies a man dying. On the right lies a cow. The frail, malnutritioned body of the dying man creates rigid shapes. He lies with both knees up, and his elbow bent at an angle to his right. The sharp structure of the man's body seems to mimic the bony and rigid structure of the cow, who also sleeps with bent legs. In the lower righthand corner, we see a body of water that reflects the image of the cow. This suggests that the relationship between the man and the cow is also to be one of reflection, a mirror image, a possible commentary on the treatment of man like animals. 

Julia