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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Pin-Up & Glamour Art

Some Help!

Artist:Gil Elvgren
Date:1952
Medium:Oil on stretched canvas
Dimensions:Sight size 24" by 30" - Framed 28 " by 34"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Calendar Art for Brown & Bigelow
Full view of oil an canvas pin-up painting
Full view of oil an canvas pin-up painting

 

The artist's signature lower left
The artist’s signature lower left

 

Framed view
Framed view

A fresh to the market, sexy and spirited Gil Elvgren oil painting created in 1952 for The Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company and published under the title Some Help!(Down,Boy). In this view of the model as artist, a curvy brunette in Parisian inspired attire is interrupted in her quest to create her masterpiece by the antics of her poodle. A classic mid-century pin-up view by the master of the genre. Elvgren had a particular affinity for images that exploited the relationship between a pretty girl & her dog for humor and whimsy. Here, the black poodle, with his jauntily tied neck scarf helps solidify the sophisticated Francophile personality of the model, while the messy paw prints covering the floor are a classic cheesecake touch. The blank canvas on the easel also cleverly provided a ready-made space for B&B to offer custom advertising placement to their customers, as seen in the pin-up print included in the sale.

 

Vintage calendar print with advertisement text in canvas space (included in sale)
Vintage calendar print with advertising added to canvas (included in sale)

 

Small B & B vintage promotional photo still of Some Help! (included in sale)
Small B & B vintage promotional photo still of Some Help! (included in sale)
Detail
Detail

The painting is handsomely framed and on the original back pine stretchers. It is in a fine state of conservation, and comes out of an advanced collection in France.

Verso view
Verso view

 

Back stretcher bar detail view
Back stretcher bar detail view

Some Help!

Artist: Gil Elvgren

Filed Under: Pin-Up & Glamour Art, Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, american, Brown & Bigelow, Gil Elvgren, original calendar art, pin up, risque, The Golden Gallery
Added to Gallery: December 27, 2014

 

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