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Born in 1914 in St. Paul, Minnesota Gil Elvgren is possibly the foremost painter of sensuality
through using models who possess a ‘girl-next-door’ quality.
Each of his paintings depicts a situation which never fails to relieve the girl of some modesty. Never sexual, always sensual their style is the epitome of the age of elegance in which he lived. These were the days before pantyhose made their dreaded appearance. How sensual his work now looks! But remember that in the days of such painting ladies knew no other hosiery. Elvgrens fading popularity in the sixties was caused by such matters. The grace of the beauties shown on these pages was undermined by the swinging sixties. These were the days before pantyhose made their dreaded appearance. How sensual his work now looks! But remember that in the days of such painting ladies knew no other hosiery. Elvgrens fading popularity in the sixties was caused by such matters. The grace of the beauties shown on these pages was undermined by the swinging sixties. |
| Elvgren originally started studying as an architect towards which he was encouraged by his
parents. Thankfully for everyone else he decided to pursue art instead. Moving to Chicago his training went well
which prompted his return to St. Pauls and the opening of a studio. This venture was not the success he hoped for
thus he returned to Chicago.
Elvgren took employment with one of the major US advertising agencies who’s clients included Coca-Cola. No artist working on that account could sign their work, but it is now clear where the Coca-Cola style came from. Elvgren spent extreme amounts of time posing the models for the pre-painting photograph. On occasions he would use the body of one girl and the face of another to achieve his vision of a perfect lifeform for his desired scenario. No sleaze could be detected in any work but moralists then, as today always have something about which they wish to object. Thankfully most of the objections were against his pre-contemporaries, but such protestations only created interest in similar works by a wider audience. |
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| Elvgrens paintings should never be viewed as cheesecake art but looked at for the little things
one generally never notices. The girl sat in the chair is a classic depiction of why we like an image, but rarely know why. Although the gorgeous young lady draws the eye, look further and notice how the chair base shape is carried through in the heel of her shoe, the pose of her legs and the straps of her dress. It is these subliminal elements that compose the beauty we see. Even the best artists can make mistakes. One of his paintings (not shown) is a girl shinning a palm tree. A further look finds she is painted with two left feet. This alone shows Elvgren worked under pressure as a commercial artist and did not become subject to the supposed tempers and tantrums of so-called ‘real artists’. |
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For many Elvgren was a ‘real artist’. He conveys the ideal of beauty, sensuality, real-life and fun in every painting. We should all mourn the loss of Gil Elvgren and hope that a successor will come forward to give us, once again the style he made so popular when ladies were ladies. |
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| GIL ELVGREN LINKS Gil Elvgrens - Monthly Images Bookstore |
GIL ELVGREN BOOKS The Best of Gil Elvgren Gil Elvgren : The Wartime Pin-Ups Gil Elvgren : 2000 Taschen Diary Gil Elvgren : 2000 Taschen Calendar Gil Elvgren and His Glamorous Amerian Pin-Ups (Jumbo) |
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