Artwork

Untitled: (elephant being loaded onto a ship, recto); (steps and building, verso)

Untitled: (elephant being loaded onto a ship, recto); (steps and building, verso) is a photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work consists of two sepia-toned photographic images arranged one above the other.

Accession no.: 2022.423
Credit line: Gift of Nina Rosenblum and Lisa Rosenblum

About this work

Overview

The work consists of two sepia-toned photographic images arranged one above the other. The upper image records an elephant being hoisted onto a vessel, observed by a group of men in period attire. The lower image captures a broad stone staircase leading to a building flanked by two monumental statues, surrounded by several figures.

Subject & Meaning

The juxtaposition links two distinct scenes of labor and architecture, suggesting a contemplation of human enterprise, both the transport of exotic wildlife and the construction of monumental civic space. The presence of onlookers in each frame emphasizes collective involvement in these undertakings.

Technique & Style

Rendered in a realistic manner, the photographs display careful attention to surface texture and spatial depth. The sepia palette, achieved through chemical toning, imparts an aged quality that evokes historical documentation while reinforcing a nostalgic atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The piece is catalogued as an untitled photograph, identified by its dual subjects: "elephant being loaded onto a ship" on the recto and "steps and building" on the verso. No further details about its creation date, photographer, or ownership history are provided in the source material.