Untitled (elephant being loaded onto a ship, recto)

1880

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Marine

Dominant colour

Untitled (elephant being loaded onto a ship, recto) is a 1880 by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1880 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This black-and-white photo shows an elephant strapped with ropes, being loaded onto a ship’s deck. Men in hats and suits stand around, some watching, others handling ropes or equipment. The ship’s deck is cluttered with crates, winches, and a few small groups of people standing near the rail. The elephant’s harness looks heavy, with thick straps around its legs and back. This was likely a tricky job—moving such a big animal by ship wasn’t easy. If you’re curious about how artists showed real-life scenes like this, check out Realism.