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.

 

 

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.