A Lot at Steak 1955

Gil Elvgren made "A Lot at Steak" with paint on canvas. This painting is pure fun—a burst of cheeky mid-century Americana. Look at the gleam in those eyes, the curve of the lips, and the way she holds that steak like it's the most precious thing in the world. It's all about the surface here, the way Elvgren teases out texture with those luscious brushstrokes. I bet he spent hours perfecting the sheen on those stockings and the fluffy, almost edible quality of her chef's hat. You can almost smell the barbeque. I wonder what he was thinking as he built up these layers of paint? Did he have a pin-up in mind or was she someone he knew? What kind of conversation did he want to have with his audience? There's definitely a kind of joyful exchange, not just with pinups who came before him, but with us too.