Framed Abstract Elephant Illustration by Mildred Dienstag

This is a minimalist, mid-century modern style black ink illustration of an elephant, measuring approximately 5” x 7” for the artwork itself. The piece features bold, thick calligraphic lines on a cream or off-white paper ground, characteristic of the work of Mildred Dienstag (1911-2007). The elephant is depicted in a stylized, rounded profile, showing heavy ink saturation and consistent line weight that suggests a linocut or a deliberate ink-and-brush technique. A distinctive artist's monogram or seal is visible in the lower right-hand corner of the paper. The artwork is professionally matted using a double-matte technique, consisting of a thin black inner border and a wider, textured tan or ochre-colored outer mat. It is housed in a polished silver-tone metal frame with mitered corners. Based on the artist's active period, this piece likely dates from the late 20th century. The condition appears excellent with no visible foxing, yellowing of the paper, or significant scuffing on the frame. The composition is well-balanced, demonstrating high-quality graphic design skill through the use of negative space and simplified figurative forms.