The Models 1973

Robert McGinnis created this promotional poster, sometime in the seventies, using gouache, and maybe ink, on board. You can tell by the graphic boldness and the flat areas of juicy color. I bet McGinnis had fun conjuring this image. The art director probably just said, “Make it pop, Bob!” And he knew exactly what to do. The way the figures are cropped suggests a world that's been cut up and re-arranged, hinting at narratives just beyond our view. I love the confident outlines – they’re not trying to be realistic, but they deliver a feeling, a vibe. There's a sense of humor, too, with the man in the suit and the light fixture hovering above, all of it pointing to the world of fantasy and desire that’s being sold. The color palette is all oranges, yellows, and blacks, a very particular moment in time. It makes me think about other artists like Patrick Nagel who embraced high contrast, graphic style with its own particular twist. Artists are always riffing on one another! Painting is a conversation across time and space. It's not about answers, but about keeping the dialogue going.