Elephant

This artist proof of an early 1960 print is an endearing work probably keeping in mind her young students—Devayani Krishna taught art at New Delhi’s Modern School. Her subject is an elephant in earth brown colours that seems to have been painted on to a cave dwelling from some ancient past—witness the eroded quality of the background reminiscent of a mildewed wall. A second elephant within the figure of the larger pachyderm may suggest a birthing or pregnancy. Traditionally, a pregnant elephant was considered a good omen.