Worth a Gander 1951

Gil Elvgren made this painting, "Worth a Gander," sometime in the middle of the twentieth century using oil on canvas. Look at the blonde woman on the ladder – is she flustered or flirting? It’s like Elvgren has captured a fleeting moment, full of implied narrative. I imagine him setting up the shot, directing his model, maybe cracking a joke to get that exact expression. The goose is a great touch, a bit of absurd humor that lightens the whole thing. It’s very painterly too, with soft brushstrokes blending the figures into the background. The color palette is warm and inviting. The woman's dress pops, a cloud of white against the earthy tones of the farmyard. Elvgren was part of a tradition of illustrators like Norman Rockwell, who could tell a whole story in a single image. I like how the artist used classic painting techniques for commercial purposes, blurring the lines between high and low art.