Smoke Screen by Gil Elvgren

The suburban lifestyle of post-war households provided countless domestic settings for calendar illustrators of the era. The humorous creation entitled “Smoke Screen” transposes this daily reality into a garden scene that is both tender and mischievous. Under the expert hand of Gil Elvgren, a simple culinary incident becomes an opportunity to celebrate feminine beauty in a refreshing way. This painting bears witness to the art of transforming the mundane into a moment of pure seduction.

Placed near a black kettle barbecue emitting white smoke, a seductive brunette tries to hold down her suddenly lifted floral dress. She is dressed in a white summer dress printed with yellow flowers, featuring red straps and a matching belt. The current of warm air lifts her dress, revealing her salmon pink silk undergarments and fine black stockings attached by garter belts. With one hand, she tries to fold back her light garment while wielding a long metal cooking fork with the other, showing a surprised look. Red stiletto heels complete her outfit on a light green lawn.

The mastery of light to suggest the vaporous smoke and the movement of the light fabric is simply remarkable. The artist excels at rendering the drape of the floral dress and the metallic reflections of the grill with great delicacy of touch.