Worth a Gander 1951

Gil Elvgren painted "Worth a Gander" with oils in the mid-20th century. You can really see the hand of the artist in this piece, especially in the careful blending of the colors. It's like Elvgren wasn't just painting an image, but constructing a whole scene, bit by bit. Look at the way the light catches the woman's dress, and how the shadows play across the goose's feathers. It's all done with such a light touch. The paint is applied in thin layers, almost translucent in places, which gives the whole image a soft, dreamlike quality. Notice particularly the subtle blush on the woman's cheeks, achieved with delicate brushstrokes. The tension between the woman, the goose, and the viewer feels reminiscent of a cheeky Rococo painting. I'm reminded of Norman Rockwell, another artist who captured a certain idealized version of American life. But where Rockwell's work often feels folksy and sentimental, Elvgren's has a more playful, almost mischievous quality.