Forward Pass, romance paperback cover 

Robert Maguire created this painting for the cover of the romance novel *Forward Pass*. Maguire was a master of paperback covers and he captured the imagination of his readers by distilling narrative and desire. During the mid-20th century, paperback covers became a cultural battleground where artists grappled with the tension between societal norms and emerging desires. Often the cover art offered a space where alternative narratives could be explored, albeit within the confines of commercial publishing. Here, the couple are entangled physically and emotionally, but, as in much of Maguire’s work, it is the woman who takes center stage. The discarded shoes suggest that a traditional narrative is also being cast aside. There’s a raw vulnerability to the scene, framed by the setting sun and lapping waves that evokes feelings of longing and intimacy. Maguire's covers not only sold books, but also shaped and reflected the cultural anxieties and aspirations of their time.