一龍斎芳豊画 「新渡舶来之大象」|Newly Imported Great Elephant (Shinto hakurai no daizō)
1863
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1863
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows a huge elephant eating stalks of grain on a green field. Around it, four people stand or crouch—one in a dark uniform, another in a fancy blue dress, a child in red, and a worker holding a broom. The elephant’s trunk curls around the stalks, and its wrinkled skin is dark gray. Japanese text fills the top and sides, with a red banner on the right. The artist used bold colors and simple shapes to make the scene lively. The people look small next to the elephant, showing how big it is. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create shading with lines.
