Woman and Elephant c. 1877

Winslow Homer created this watercolour entitled Woman and Elephant sometime in the late 19th century in the United States. It depicts a young, seated woman in profile, gazing at a small elephant figurine upon a table. The elephant figurine is telling; its presence speaks to the growth of America’s wealthy class and the rise of global trade. Such trinkets were increasingly popular in the late 1800s, as America expanded its reach into international markets and consumers sought novelties from afar. Homer’s choice of watercolour, a medium often associated with leisure and the genteel, further situates this piece within a specific social milieu. The loose brushwork and soft palette evoke a sense of casual intimacy, inviting the viewer to contemplate the young woman's interior thoughts. Delving into the period’s publications and trade records might reveal the precise origins of such elephant figurines, giving us greater insights into the global networks shaping American consumer culture during Homer's time.