Elephant c. 1936

This delicate watercolor of an elephant was made by Du Bois at an unknown date. Look at those muted, earthy tones, like the world is seen through a faded lens. The elephant is a toy, and the lines are soft, unsure; it feels like the artist is feeling their way through the subject. The red blanket looks like it's been painted quickly, with just a few strokes of the brush. It gives a feeling of freedom and playfulness. The elephant is captured with a light touch, it makes me feel like I am remembering a half-forgotten memory, the color, and form dissolving as they are being constructed. I’m thinking about other artists, like Cy Twombly, who have also explored the theme of memory in their work. Painting is a language and we painters are always in conversation, sharing ideas. The best painting happens when you embrace the unknown. Because what we make is always going to be ambiguous, open to interpretation, it's always going to ask more questions than it answers.