So Rich, So Lovely, and So Dead, paperback cover 1961

Robert McGinnis created this paperback cover, "So Rich, So Lovely, and So Dead," using gestural marks and a muted color palette. Just look at the way the woman reclines; the blue stripes of the bedclothes, the soft, pinky-grey of the wall, and the olive of the Capri pants create a world that's both glamorous and a bit off-kilter. You get the feeling that McGinnis wasn't going for photorealism but something more psychological and evocative. You can almost imagine him thinking about the weight of the paint and the texture of the canvas as he was building up the image. I'm especially drawn to the woman's pose—so casual, and yet, there's a hint of vulnerability in her expression, as if the artist were trying to capture a fleeting moment of introspection. The way she rests her head on her hand, that gesture alone communicates so much about her state of mind. It's almost like I’m catching her between takes, in a moment of pause and maybe even doubt. I can feel the weight of a past era while looking to the present, and the future of all paintings to come.