Tarzan and the Madman Paperback Cover 1977

Boris Vallejo painted this cover for "Tarzan and the Madman" with oils, likely on illustration board. Vallejo’s masterful handling of paint is evident in the rippling muscles of both man and beast. The texture of the hide, the tension in Tarzan’s grip – all convincingly rendered. But what does this image tell us about the world outside the frame? Book covers are a designed object, made as advertisements within the wider system of capitalist production. They are made to entice the viewer. Oil painting, historically a medium of high art, is here put in the service of mass-market appeal. Vallejo’s images sold countless books, contributing to a culture in which fantasy becomes a commodity. Ultimately, this painting prompts us to consider how artistic skill can be intertwined with commercial imperatives, blurring the lines between art, craft, and the marketplace.