Artwork preview

The Elephant King Wrestles a Crocodile: Illustration from a Gajendramoksha Series

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The illustration depicts a scene with a large elephant and a crocodile. The elephant is on the right side, facing left, with its trunk curled around the crocodile. The crocodile is mostly under the elephant, with its head protruding to the bottom right. The elephant and crocodile are entwined, appearing to be in a physical struggle. The background includes a tree with flowers in the top left. The image is drawn on aged paper with visible discoloration and wear. The drawing is in black lines, with no additional color. The elephant and crocodile are the main subjects, taking up most of the space.

Artwork Details

Date
late 19th century
Medium
Ink and wash on paper
Culture
India (Rajasthan, Kotah)
Dimensions
600 × 515 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette