Above: Full view of gouche work on illustration board

Above: The artist’s signature

A macabre gouache rendering by Mahlon Blaine for an as of yet undetermined publication. A highly charged noir erotic scene depicting a Vaudeville era Burlesque performer in allegorical temptation scene. The devil, with serpent’s tongue is shown behind a nude dancer representing temptation. The two figures left and right are shown as stand ins for good and evil. Blaine was a unique talent, and counter culture avant-garde artist who worked outside of the confines of the mainstream. A life-long bohemian, his work became increasingly sexual and marginalized from the norm of illustration art, and as time went on he counted the magician Dunninger among his closest friends, and most important patrons. His blackly erotic style bore witness to his fascination with dark arts.

Above: Framed and matted in simple gold wood frame

Above: Detail

The enigmatic and enduring prolific illustrator had a long and unusual career and enjoys a cult like following and much glowing acclaim to this day.