Out of This World 1959

Gil Elvgren, a master of the form, made this painted pin-up illustration, Out of This World, during an unspecified year. It’s all soft edges and diffused light. It’s fun to imagine Elvgren at work here, right? Think of the slow build. The globe’s blues and creams, all blended and buffed to a high gloss. Then comes the lady herself, with her coy smile. It's probably all about sales, but I admire how Elvgren manages to give her a kind of believable presence amid all the objectification. And, wow, the colors. That polka dot dress and the red on her lips, are reflected in the red on her nails and the travel brochures at her feet. It’s a whole mood, a whole world of leisure and pleasure. Painters are always in conversation with one another, right? Even across time. Every gesture is like a little echo, a little reminder that we’re all in this together, trying to make sense of the world, one brushstroke at a time.