Captivating c. 1950s

Gil Elvgren painted 'Captivating' with oil on canvas, and you can really see his illustrative technique at work. The brushstrokes are so smooth, almost invisible, as Elvgren builds up form with layers of blended color. The whole surface has a kind of sheen to it, a polished and glossy effect. It reminds me of the way that Ingres created a feeling of hyperrealism, though in Elvgren's case it's used for altogether more 'commercial' ends. Look at the light as it catches the silk of the gown, creating a pearlescent tone, shifting from green to white. The subtle tonal variations create the shape of the dress, with only a minimum of line work. There's a very slight sense of narrative to the piece, emphasized by the inclusion of props such as the discarded shoe and unwrapped gift. Like his contemporary, Norman Rockwell, Elvgren was a master storyteller!