Wild Girl 1963

Mel Ramos made this painting, Wild Girl, using oil on canvas. What strikes me first is the almost cartoon-like quality. The flatness of the color blocks, the solid black outline of the figure. It's so clearly a painting, revelling in the artifice of the thing. Look at how Ramos plays with texture. The woman’s skin is smooth, almost porcelain, in contrast with the lush, painterly jungle surrounding her. I’m really drawn to the way the foliage is rendered with these quick, expressive strokes of paint. It's like Ramos is saying, "Yeah, I know this isn't real. But isn't it fun?" It’s a painting about painting, a nod to the history of pin-up art, and maybe even a wink at Henri Rousseau's jungle scenes. All in one go!