Les éléphants sacrés - Agra Inde Circa 1942

This circa 1942 drawing, titled Les éléphants sacrés – Agra Inde, is a captivating work inspired by the style of French artist Maire André. The composition presents a richly detailed scene set before the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, India, capturing the majestic presence of sacred elephants parading through the forecourt. Each elephant, adorned with ceremonial markings and guided by riders in traditional dress, contributes to the pageantry of the moment, evoking the grandeur and ritual of Indian royal processions.

Executed with expressive charcoal and delicate touches of color, the drawing reflects both a fascination with the exotic and a respectful attempt to capture the atmosphere of the Indian subcontinent. The domes and minarets of the Taj Mahal loom in the background, offering a powerful architectural counterpoint to the organic mass of the elephants in the foreground.

This work speaks to the period’s broader European interest in Orientalism, yet it does so with sensitivity and detail that suggest careful observation rather than mere fantasy. The sense of movement, the interplay of light and shadow, and the attention to costume and setting all point to an artist intent on capturing the spirit of place.

Whether viewed as a travel-inspired study or as a tribute to Indian cultural traditions, Les éléphants sacrés remains a visually compelling document of cross-cultural artistic curiosity during the early 20th century.

Charcoal drawing

Asia - India

Bibliography André Maire traveling painter (1898/1984) 2002 Paris, Somogy art edition Pp 54-55

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