Gil Elvgren (March 15, 1914 – February 29, 1980), born
Gilette Elvgren, was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painterPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . In art, the term describes both the act and the result, which is called a painting. Paintings may have for their support such surfaces as walls, paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer, clay or concrete...
of
pin-up girlA pin-up girl or pin-up model is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as pop culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display. Pin-up girls are glamour models, fashion models, and actresses....
s,
advertisingAdvertising is a form of communication used to influence individuals to purchase products or services or support political candidates or ideas. Frequently it communicates a message that includes the name of the product or service and how that product or service could potentially benefit the consumer...
and
illustrationAn illustration is a visualization such as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that stresses subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate textual information by providing a visual representation.- Overview :Illustrations can:* give faces to...
. Elvgren lived in various locations, and was active from the 1930s to 1970s. Today he is best known for his pin-up paintings for
Brown & BigelowBrown & Bigelow of St. Paul, Minn. is the art company that published Rolf Armstrong, Gil Elvgren, Earl Moran,Vaughn Alden Bass, Mabel Rollins Harris, and Norman Rockwell. In the late 1940s, it was one of the biggest calendar printers in the world, employing some of the United States' best pin-up...
. Elvgren studied at the
American Academy of ArtThe American Academy of Art is a professional, accredited fine arts school located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1923 for the education of both fine and commercial arts. The school has a tradition of top art education with exceptional students being awarded the academy's most...
.
Elvgren was one of the most important pin-up and glamour artists of the twentieth century.
Gil Elvgren (March 15, 1914 – February 29, 1980), born
Gilette Elvgren, was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painterPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . In art, the term describes both the act and the result, which is called a painting. Paintings may have for their support such surfaces as walls, paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer, clay or concrete...
of
pin-up girlA pin-up girl or pin-up model is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as pop culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display. Pin-up girls are glamour models, fashion models, and actresses....
s,
advertisingAdvertising is a form of communication used to influence individuals to purchase products or services or support political candidates or ideas. Frequently it communicates a message that includes the name of the product or service and how that product or service could potentially benefit the consumer...
and
illustrationAn illustration is a visualization such as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that stresses subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate textual information by providing a visual representation.- Overview :Illustrations can:* give faces to...
. Elvgren lived in various locations, and was active from the 1930s to 1970s. Today he is best known for his pin-up paintings for
Brown & BigelowBrown & Bigelow of St. Paul, Minn. is the art company that published Rolf Armstrong, Gil Elvgren, Earl Moran,Vaughn Alden Bass, Mabel Rollins Harris, and Norman Rockwell. In the late 1940s, it was one of the biggest calendar printers in the world, employing some of the United States' best pin-up...
. Elvgren studied at the
American Academy of ArtThe American Academy of Art is a professional, accredited fine arts school located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1923 for the education of both fine and commercial arts. The school has a tradition of top art education with exceptional students being awarded the academy's most...
.
Elvgren was one of the most important pin-up and glamour artists of the twentieth century. In addition, he was a classical American illustrator. He was a master of portraying the 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 Dana GibsonCharles Dana Gibson was an American graphic artist, noted for his creation of the Gibson Girl, an iconic representation of the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the 20th Century.-Biography:...
,
Andrew LoomisWilliam Andrew Loomis was an illustrator from the United States. He was born in New York, but spent most of his working life in Chicago. He was a student of George Bridgman's as a youth...
, and
Howard Chandler ChristyHoward Chandler Christy was an American artist famous for the "Christy Girl", similar to a "Gibson Girl"...
. Other influences included the
Brandywine SchoolThe Brandywine School was a style of illustration and an artists colony in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, near Brandywine Creek, founded by artist Howard Pyle at the turn of the last century...
founded by
Howard PyleHoward Pyle was an American illustrator and writer, primarily of books for young audiences. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy.__FORCETOC__...
.
Elvgren was a commercial success. His clients ranged from Brown and Bigelow and
Coca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines internationally. The Coca-Cola Company claims that the beverage is sold in more than 200 countries...
to
General ElectricThe General Electric Company, or GE , is a multinational American technology and services conglomerate incorporated in the State of New York. In 2009, Forbes ranked GE as the world's largest company...
and
Sealy Mattress CompanySealy Corporation is a major mattress manufacturer. The company draws its name from the city where it started, Sealy, Texas.- History :In 1881, cotton gin builder Daniel Haynes began making cotton-filled mattresses for his friends and neighbors. In 1889, he patented an invention that compressed...
. In addition, during the 1940s and 1950s he illustrated stories for a host of magazines, such as
The Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. While the publication traces its historical roots to Benjamin Franklin and The Pennsylvania Gazette first published in 1728, The Saturday Evening Post, rechristened under new ownership in 1821 as a four-page newspaper, eventually became...
and
Good HousekeepingGood Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
.
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