Miss-Placed Confidence c. 1941

Gil Elvgren made this painting, Miss-Placed Confidence, and it makes me wonder... There's this moment of mishap with a dog, a coat stand, and a woman caught in the middle, maybe on purpose! Elvgren’s use of oil creates a super smooth surface that emphasizes the scene's artificiality, kind of like a stage set. I imagine him carefully considering each pose, each prop, and the lighting to capture a fleeting moment of comic tension. The woman’s raised eyebrow tells us everything. It is a very 'look at me' kind of painting but the joke is on her! It's like he’s saying, ‘Life is a performance, so make it a good one.’ These paintings aren't just about the pose, they're about finding the funny in everyday life. I like that a lot.