Elephant
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 23 cm (11 5/16 x 9 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 14" long; 4" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15707
Art Historical Context
In the whimsical *Elephant* (c. 1936), artist Raoul Du Bois brings to life a delightful piece of American folk art through watercolor, graphite, and gou on paper. Measuring just 28.8 x 23 cm, this precise rendering captures a small carved wooden elephant—originally 14 inches long and 4 inches high—from the National Gallery of Art's Index American Design collection. Du Bois's skilled hand renders the creature's sturdy form, curved trunk, and playful posture with vibrant colors and fine graphite details, evoking the charm of everyday craftsmanship from America's past. Created as part of the Fed...