Bert Heersema (1965) - ARE YOU READY MR ELVGREN?






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ARE YOU READY MR ELVGREN?, a modern oil painting by Bert Heersema (Netherlands, 2023) in 44 × 54 cm, dated 2020+, sold with a new wooden frame.
Description from the seller
Oil painting by the Dutch painter Bert Heersema from Zwolle, with an explicit artistic reference to the work and mood of the American pin-up artist Gil Elvgren. In this work, Heersema subtly plays with nostalgia, glamour and seduction, but translates this into a more restrained and psychologically charged portrait.
The depicted woman appears half-hidden behind a curtain and looks the viewer straight in the eyes, from whatever position you view from, she comes along and keeps looking at you. The title suggests a playful dialogue with Elvgren's iconic pin-up aesthetic, while the execution actually evokes more intimacy and tension than overt glamour. The combination of soft skin tones, a warm color palette and the strong red of her lips enhances this effect.
Brushwork is loose but controlled, with visible brushwork and a focus on expression. The work balances between figurative realism and a lightly narrative approach, making the painting feel both recognizable and personal.
The painting is done on canvas 40x50 cm, and is in excellent condition and has a brand-new high-quality wooden box frame, which gives the painting a contemporary and luxurious look and makes it immediately suitable for display. It will be carefully packed and shipped insured.
Oil painting by the Dutch painter Bert Heersema from Zwolle, with an explicit artistic reference to the work and mood of the American pin-up artist Gil Elvgren. In this work, Heersema subtly plays with nostalgia, glamour and seduction, but translates this into a more restrained and psychologically charged portrait.
The depicted woman appears half-hidden behind a curtain and looks the viewer straight in the eyes, from whatever position you view from, she comes along and keeps looking at you. The title suggests a playful dialogue with Elvgren's iconic pin-up aesthetic, while the execution actually evokes more intimacy and tension than overt glamour. The combination of soft skin tones, a warm color palette and the strong red of her lips enhances this effect.
Brushwork is loose but controlled, with visible brushwork and a focus on expression. The work balances between figurative realism and a lightly narrative approach, making the painting feel both recognizable and personal.
The painting is done on canvas 40x50 cm, and is in excellent condition and has a brand-new high-quality wooden box frame, which gives the painting a contemporary and luxurious look and makes it immediately suitable for display. It will be carefully packed and shipped insured.
