1594
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Elephant Fighting two Beasts is a 1594 by Nicolaes de Bruyn, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows an elephant on the right, its trunk wrapped around a twisted, horned beast. The two animals are locked in a struggle, their bodies tangled on the ground. The background is dark and textured, with a few plants near the elephant’s feet. The artist used deep shadows and bold lines to make the animals look fierce. The elephant’s size and calm expression contrast with the smaller beast’s wild, sharp features. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works in other art.
Nicolaes de Bruyn (Antwerp, 1571 – Rotterdam, 1656) was a Flemish engraver, who after training in Antwerp was active in the Dutch Republic.
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