He Almost Scared Me Out of My Skin! 1948

Gil Elvgren painted this in a style that’s a little bit like a dance – all curves and surprising angles, and mostly, a lot of looking. The way he handles oil paint here is smooth. There’s this sheen that’s about seduction, but also about control. The colours in the background are muted, which makes the figure pop, like a spotlight on a performer. Look at her hand. That finger is crucial; it directs our eye, but it also suggests there’s something lurking, maybe even dangerous. The softness of the faux bear rug contrasts with the shadow on the wall. It makes you wonder what stories these women could tell. There's a tension in Elvgren's use of shadow; it brings to mind the darker side of the image of women. It brings to mind artists like Lisa Yuskavage, who have explored similar territory with a more critical eye.