Arabesque 1966

Robert McGinnis made this movie poster for ‘Arabesque’ using luscious swathes of paint and drawing, probably sometime in the 1960s. The background is a flat pink field, which is the ground for these two very stylish figures. I can imagine McGinnis working on it in his studio – maybe he starts by laying in that unctuous pink, almost like he’s buttering toast. Then comes the fun part, using fluid brushstrokes to define the edges of the figures, the cut of Gregory Peck’s suit, and that great faux-fur coat worn by Sophia Loren. It’s such a fun and graphic approach, so typical of the bold illustration of that time. I particularly love the way he handles light and shadow, using them to bring out the forms and add drama, especially around the eyes and cheekbones. You know, McGinnis was very influenced by other painters of the time, such as Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren. It’s like one big conversation, each artist riffing off the other, pushing the boundaries of the painted image.