The elephant celebes

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Dimensions: 125,4 x 107,9 сm.
Location: Tate Gallery, London.

The name of this painting has a double meaning. Celebes is an Indonesian island, the shape of which resembles that of an elephant. At the same time, Ernst himself said that the picture was inspired by a children’s tune, which mentions “an elephant from Celebes, resembling a demon”. Moreover, the island is inhabited by dwarf buffalos that look very similar to Ernst’s elephant.

The black figure not only resembles an elephant or a buffalo, but also is associated with symbols of the military past: a gas mask and a tank. The dark figure of the elephant contrasts with the headless white female figure.