wge2-016 Gil Elvgren (1914-1980)

The artwork presents a female figure in a stylized Western setting. She is positioned atop a weathered wooden fence, her posture suggesting both confidence and playful defiance. The woman wears a costume evoking a cowgirl persona: a white fringed top, matching shorts adorned with star motifs, and high-heeled boots. A six-shooter pistol is held casually in her right hand, pointed slightly downwards. Her gaze is directed towards the viewer, conveying an air of directness and perhaps amusement.
The background is dominated by a vibrant blue sky, contrasting sharply with the earthy tones of the fence and the figure’s attire. A silhouetted cactus punctuates the lower portion of the scene, reinforcing the desert landscape. The artist employed a smooth rendering style, characteristic of illustrative techniques prevalent in mid-20th century popular culture. Light is used to highlight the contours of her body, emphasizing a sensual quality while maintaining an overall air of fantasy and theatricality.
Subtexts within the work revolve around themes of femininity, adventure, and the romanticization of the American West. The juxtaposition of traditionally masculine elements – the gun, the cowboy attire – with a conventionally feminine figure creates a deliberate tension. This suggests a playful subversion of gender roles, presenting a woman who is both alluring and capable. The idealized landscape and the carefully constructed costume contribute to an overall sense of escapism and fantasy, likely intended to appeal to a broad audience seeking entertainment and aspirational imagery. The work’s aesthetic aligns with a genre that often blended elements of glamour, adventure, and Americana, creating a specific cultural moments vision of both femininity and frontier spirit.