The Elephant Celebes

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The Elephant Celebes (also known as Celebes) (1921) is a painting by the German dadaist/surrealist Max Ernst. This is possibly the most famous of Ernst’s early surrealist works. It combines the vivid, dreamlike atmosphere of surrealism with the angry and industrial overtones of the dada movement.

The central focus of the painting is a giant mechanical figure. It is round and has a trunk-like hose protruding from it. The figure’s round body was modeled after a photograph of a large bin of corn from Sudan. The title is derived from the opening words from a German rhyme.

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