Miss Sylvania’s Mishap c. 1955

Gil Elvgren, sometime in the mid-20th century, made Miss Sylvania’s Mishap with paint, probably oil, and a whole lot of charm. Look at how he uses the red grid on the dress, it’s not just decoration, it’s a way of mapping out the form, like a 3D model in early computer graphics. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. See the way the light catches the mailbox? It’s almost sculptural, the paint’s built up to give it real heft. But then, those legs! So smooth, so creamy, it's like the paint has been buffed to a perfect sheen. It's this contrast – the rough and the smooth, the calculated and the carefree – that really gets me going. The light and shadow on the white fence feel very Hopper, but with that Elvgren touch of humour. Elvgren was a master of cheesecake, sure, but he was also a damn fine painter. It’s this kind of playful tension that makes art so endlessly fascinating, right?