Prince Riding an Elephant 16th - 17th century

Khem Karan created this painting of a Prince Riding an Elephant without a known date, and it is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition shows a vibrant procession, dominated by the large, dark form of the elephant moving from left to right across a neutral ground. This creates a strong directional pull, engaging the viewer's eye. Karan masterfully uses color to create contrast and hierarchy. The prince, adorned in white, sits atop the elephant, whose elaborate trappings include a green saddle cloth. Servants, colored in pink and orange, add movement and narrative to the scene. The border contains floral motifs and geometric shapes, framing the central image and adding a layer of ornamental complexity, reflecting the visual culture of its time. The varying scales of the figures, especially the reduced size of the attendants compared to the prince and elephant, establishes a clear hierarchy. This reflects the social structures and power dynamics inherent in the courtly life of the period. Ultimately, this painting can be seen not just as a representation of a royal procession, but as a complex encoding of status and authority.