Miss-Placed Confidence c. 1941

Gil Elvgren painted "Miss-Placed Confidence" as an illustration, probably in the mid-20th century, in oil on canvas. The surface of the canvas has an even texture, but the pink underlayer comes through in places, particularly around the model's head. I find the contrast between the yellow robe and the dark brown underwear interesting. It reminds me that he was playing with light, almost as if he was trying to use shadow in a non-traditional way, like Caravaggio or Rembrandt. It is very interesting that the whole piece seems to be a process of adding layers and tones to the overall image. His pin-up work, like this one, seems related to that of Alberto Vargas, but while Vargas works from a flatter perspective, Elvgren creates a sense of depth with chiaroscuro. Both artists were masters of their craft, and their work invites us to find new ways of seeing the world.