Peter Beard Diptych-Style Hippopotamus Photographic Wall Art

This item is a large-format horizontal wall art piece presented in a diptych composition featuring images of a hippopotamus, strongly reflective of the signature style of renowned photographer Peter Beard. The left side displays a clear, wide-angle black and white photograph of a hippopotamus standing on a rocky bank in its natural African savanna habitat. The right side features a darker, heavy-contrast iteration of a similar subject, layered with gestural scribbles, hand-written text, and possibly mixed-media elements like ink or paint, creating a collage effect. The piece is housed in a minimalist thin black frame that appears to be made of metal or stained wood. The tonal range transitions from soft greys and whites on the left to deep blacks and earthenochre tones on the right. The visible condition suggests it is a modern print or reproduction, as the surface appears flat with no significant foxing, moisture damage, or fading. The craftsmanship points to a high-quality contemporary decor item, likely a giclee or off-set lithograph, designed to emulate the complex journal-style aesthetics of 20th-century wildlife photography art. There are no obvious signs of a physical original signature or numbering visible in this view, suggesting it may be a mass-produced or boutique gallery edition rather than a vintage original.