Thomas D. Mangelsen

(born 1945)

"Laid Back – Chimpanzee", Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, 2018, 34"x48" Artist Proof Collection: 32/95

Footnotes

In 2018, Thomas D. Mangelsen made his first visit with his dear friend, Dr. Jane Goodall, to Gombe Stream National Park, the nature reserve in Tanzania where her monumental chimpanzee research began in the late 1960s. For days, the two wandered along animal trails in the mountainous jungle of Gombe, rising at first light and staying out until dark, hoping to get a glimpse of the chimp families moving between high and low ground.


On the last day, as if on cue, magic happened when a family group of a dozen chimps came down from the trees into a clearing. It was almost as if to offer a greeting to their most passionate human advocate. This photograph is of a ten-month-old chimp named Gombe, grandson of Gremlin—a chimp that Jane studied and knew well. Gombe was leaning against his mother, Glitter. This image speaks to the similar behaviors between our closest relatives in the animal world. In many ways, we are mirror reflections of each other.


Millions of chimps used to live throughout equatorial Africa. However, the bush meat trade, destruction of habitat, and the black market for live chimps and animal parts has had devastating effects. Currently, chimps are classified as endangered with between 170,000 and 300,000 thought to still exist in the wild.


Artist Proof Collection.

These prints are reserved for Mangelsen's personal use and may be displayed in museums, gallery showings, conservation events or sold to collectors on a limited basis. The Artist Proof Collection is an additional 10% of the edition number of each image in the Limited Edition Collection. Available in select sizes, these prints are sold at a higher premium due to their exclusive numbers. Each print has Mangelsen's signature and a unique edition number on the front. Each image comes with a signature card and a Certificate of Authenticity.