PYG GE 020 I Gave Him the Brush Off 1947 Gil Elvgren (1914-1980)

The composition presents a young woman in a domestic setting, yet her posture and expression suggest a deliberate rejection of conventional roles. She is depicted as a maid, identifiable by her uniform consisting of a black skirt with white trim and a matching cap. However, the artist has emphasized her physical attributes; the uniform appears almost secondary to the display of her figure. Her pose is dynamic – she leans forward, one leg extended in a casual yet provocative manner, while holding a feather duster aloft as if wielding it as a weapon or a barrier.
The most striking element is her interaction with a telephone receiver held to her ear. A playful smirk graces her lips, indicating amusement and defiance rather than polite engagement. The phone itself becomes a symbol of unwanted attention or intrusion, which she actively deflects with the duster. This gesture implies a rejection of courtship or obligation, a deliberate brush-off as the title suggests.
The color palette contributes significantly to the overall mood. A vibrant turquoise background creates a sense of artificiality and isolation, distancing the figure from any realistic domestic space. The limited use of other colors – primarily black, white, and skin tones – further emphasizes her form and accentuates the theatrical quality of the scene.
Subtly, the painting explores themes of female agency and rebellion against societal expectations prevalent in the mid-20th century. While ostensibly portraying a domestic worker, the woman’s confident stance and dismissive gesture challenge traditional notions of femininity and subservience. The work can be interpreted as a commentary on the limited roles available to women at the time, or perhaps an early expression of burgeoning female independence. The artists choice to depict this defiance through a seemingly innocuous scene – a maid answering the phone – adds a layer of irony and subversive humor.