Madame X

A detailed analysis of an Enoch Bolles illustration (from a blog I love – devoted to the work of Enoch Bolles).

Gaze at those lovely hands. You’ve heard me go on and on about how Bolles loved drawing hands and used them to intensify compositions and as semiotic elements that serve both as signs and symbols. See how elongated her left hand is and how the mere fingertips of the right hand are exposed. The standard middle fingers touching pose has never been used more effectively. In this cover Bolles also featured what he considered was the most charged aspect of the female figure, and one that you likely would never have guessed…it’s the shoulder. I learned this from a single quote buried in a letter Bolles wrote over 70 years ago and after reading it I could never look at Bolles girl quite the same way ever again. In this case the shoulder not only serves as the central compositional element in this painting but as with the hand, is noticeably elongated along with her upper arm. It’s also worth pointing out that her choice of drink lends a whole different aspect to the painting compared to something like a flute of champagne or even a beer stein. Bolles completed a couple other covers where the girl was holding a soda shop drink and I have to wonder if it was some sort of inside story or symbolic meaning that is lost to a modern audience or perhaps just one of his more innocent visual puns.

Go read the whole thing, and it’s a real pleasure to just scroll through that blog. I love Enoch Bolles’ stuff.

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2 Responses to Madame X

  1. Jack R says:

    Hi,
    I just wanted to thank you for this nice shout out and the kind comments you made about my blog. I’m happy you’ve enjoyed it.
    Best,
    Jack

  2. george says:

    Isn’t it great how such enthusiasts exist all over the place – keepers of the flame. Some little time ago I serendipitously came across a site devoted to an obscure TV show from the 50’s, Adventures in Paradise. How great that there can be nothing too little to take up important great space in people’s lives.

    Not that Enoch Bolles is little. And the site is great. And I never tire at looking at those illustrations. And how great is it that someone can get lost, happily, looking at old vintage posters of – anything!

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