Oakland (Kneeing elephant) 1976

Bill Dane's photograph, Oakland (Kneeing elephant), shows an elephant kneeling on a city street somewhere in Oakland. Dane is known for his snapshot aesthetic and use of black and white film, turning everyday scenes into poetic and poignant moments. There's a tenderness in the grey tones, softening the grit of the urban setting. Look at the texture of the elephant's skin, so wrinkly and creased it looks almost like a map. The quality of light and shadow gives the picture a tactile, almost sculptural, feel. Notice the details – the drain cover in the bottom left, the shopping cart filled with goods in the foreground. They are everyday objects, and seem to be placed in direct contrast to the otherworldly image of an elephant in an urban environment. This piece reminds me of some of the surrealist juxtapositions that pop up in paintings by artists like Magritte. It's a strange, dreamlike image that raises more questions than answers.