A Christmas Eve 1954

Gil Elvgren made "A Christmas Eve" painting with oils and a whole lot of charm. Look at the soft edges and how the paint seems to melt into the canvas. You can see Elvgren building up the image in layers, like he's sculpting with light and shadow. The whole scene has this dreamy, almost theatrical feel. The way the light catches the woman's gown, turning it into a shimmering veil, reminds me of Sargent's society portraits, but with a playful twist. But it's also about the physicality of paint. See how he uses these quick, wispy brushstrokes to suggest movement, like she's caught in a moment of anticipation. Then notice the little details like the texture of the Christmas tree needles which contrast with the smoothness of the skin and satin. Elvgren invites us to embrace art's power to evoke a feeling rather than just represent a reality. Maybe Norman Rockwell would've painted this scene too, but Elvgren has a mischievousness that's all his own.