Socking It Away 1949

Editor: So, this is Gil Elvgren's "Socking It Away," painted in 1949. It looks like an advertisement, but it’s also…a bit cheeky, right? There's this woman flashing a glimpse of money tucked into her stocking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, on the surface, it seems like playful pin-up art, appealing to a post-war male gaze. But let’s dig a little deeper. What does it say about women's roles, their perceived value in a capitalist society? The title itself, "Socking It Away," is a pun, a wink at both saving money and female allure. Consider how femininity is commodified here. What do you make of the setting? Editor: It seems…official. A brick wall with what looks like a mail deposit box, almost institutional. Is that meant to contrast with the overtly sexualized presentation? Curator: Exactly. Elvgren is juxtaposing private, intimate displays of femininity with public, almost bureaucratic, structures. It prompts us to think about the societal systems in which these images circulated and thrived. In the post-war era, consumerism was on the rise, and images like these encouraged a certain kind of relationship between women, money, and desire. Is the woman a manipulator, an object, or something in between? Editor: That’s…complex. It’s not just a harmless image; it’s reflecting and reinforcing some complicated power dynamics. I'd originally dismissed it as just "of its time". Curator: Precisely. And thinking critically about its time—the historical context, the socio-economic forces—allows us to unpack its deeper implications for today. We've only scratched the surface. Editor: I guess it shows you can't just look at art; you have to read it too. Curator: And engage with it, challenge it, and understand the world it both reflects and shapes.