The photograph is titled “Geese, Harlem, 1872-1887”, but there’s a bunch of interesting things going on in the photograph. In addition to the geese checking out the photographer, there are goats eating grass, rocks lined up for some reason, and the shadow of the on the photographer
source).
was a Brooklyn-based photographer who took the photo as part of a series documenting NYC from 1872-1887 (
Though this image is not on view, other work by George Bradford Brainerd can be seen at the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York.
Check out more Harlem History here.