I have always adored the artwork of Gil Elvgren. He is considered one of the finest “pin-up” and glamour artists of the 20th century. A little about him:

“Elvgren was a classical American illustrator. He was a master of portraying the all-American ideal feminine, but he wasn’t limited to the calendar pin-up industry. He was strongly influenced by the early “pretty girl” illustrators, such as Charles Gibson, Andrew Loomis, and Howard Christy.

In 1937, Gil began painting calendar pin-ups for Louis F. Dow, one of America’s leading publishing companies, during which time he created about 60 works. Around 1944, Gil was approached by Brown and Bigelow, a firm that still dominates the field in producing calendars and advertising specialties. He was associated with Brown and Bigelow from 1945 to 1972.

Elvgren lived in various locations, and was active from the 1930s to 1970s. His clients ranged from Brown and Bigelow and Coca-Cola to GE and Sealy Mattres Company. In addition, during the 1940s and 1950s he illustrated stories for a host of magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Elvgren)

Like all great artists, I think that he really captured the essence of a time in history. His paintings, while sometimes commercial, are full of such vivacious life. How wonderful is art? A guy from Saint Paul, Minnesota created works that interest and enchant people long after he is gone. These young women never age, but serve as an inspiration for future generations of girls with a wiggle in their walk and a giggle in their talk.

–Katie