I’m a Happy Medium 1947

Gil Elvgren conjured "I’m a Happy Medium" sometime between 1930 and 1970, a shimmering oil on canvas. The colors practically vibrate, don’t they? Look at the way he balances the cool greens and purples with the warmth of her skin. See the brushstrokes following the curves of her body, building volume with layers of paint. Elvgren wasn't trying to hide the work, but celebrate it. Now, zoom in on that crystal ball. It’s not just a smooth, reflective surface, but a swirl of purples, a galaxy contained in her hand. It’s like Elvgren is saying that art, like fortune-telling, is about seeing possibilities, not certainties. Elvgren was doing his own thing, but I can’t help but think of someone like Tamara de Lempicka, with her sleek, stylized figures. It's like they're both exploring how we see beauty, desire, and maybe even a little bit of magic, in the world around us.