Above: Full view of gouache painting

Above: The artist’s signature

A new to the market delightful gouache painting by the Chicago area artist and “Sundblom Shop” pin up illustrator Harry Ekman. A stylish redheaded Burlesque performer with bright red lips in sexy opera gloves and an ostrich plumed fan. Work is nicely matted and framed and a fine example by this prolific yet hard to come by gifted pin-up artist and commercial illustrator.

Above: Framed and matted in simple black wood frame

Above: Detail

Harry Ekman:

A Chicago artist, Harry Ekman worked side by side with fellow Sundblom shop veteran Gil Elvgren, developing a lush style in oils uncannily like that of his mentor. His girls have the same fresh, wholesome glow as Elvgren’s.

Assisting his colleague in the 1960s, Ekman may even have “ghosted” certain Elvgren signed paintings. His own work appeared under both the Brown & Bigelow imprint and Shaw-Barton.