Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving?

A great cover but a hassle to clean up. By 1937, when this issue hit the newsstands the publishers of Gay Parisienne had resorted to ever cheaper printing. Not only did I have to remove some major age wear but the image was loaded with printing blemishes. But I think the painting is worth the attention and the featured cover story could well be describing it. At first glance our baker is simply trimming up the crust, but a closer look reveals she is not appropriately, or at least, completely dressed for the job. Bolles did a lot of covers like this, innocent at first and then as you look closer all sorts of contrary details start to show up; the lack of undergarments, a flash of flesh where you wouldn't expect to see it, or clothing patterns that look like naughty bits. He must have driven the censors crazy.

4 comments:

marco said...

i like a lot the shadow on the red area that closes the figure on the wall... cool very and conscious

Jack R said...

They called these Bulls-Eye covers and the trend started in the early 1920s. Bolles did a few for Film Fun but this may be the only example for another magazine.

Li-An said...

Very nice cover :-)

Jack R said...

She seems to have a 1950s vibe. It's one of the images that make me think Bolles was decades ahead of other 'pin-up' artists.