Bettie Page - Queen Of Hearts
(1995 - Dark Horse Books) 
(by Jim Silke) In this 96-page book, there are more pages with photographs of Ms. Bettie Page in the flesh, than those of artwork featuring her, but realistically, it's hard to characterize that as much of a complaint. Other kinds of artwork do then tip the scales enough to get the volume up onto the artbook list. The backbone is author Silke's very readable essay on the times that formed the milieu of pin-up, both over- & under-the-counter, and the reasons for Page's domination of the latter. For illustrative value for his points, he includes a number of tawdry magazine & paperback covers and other art pin-ups of the period. After Page disappeared from sight, Silke traces how she remained in the shadowy cultural consciousness through the years until her iconic status was cemented by a particular faction of the artistic community that seemed to declare that all the images she left behind defined her as the perfect model for the fantasy themes they wanted to explore. Paintings & drawings here display her as showgirl, lingerie-model, bathing beauty, stripper, girl-next-door, sex kitten, pirate, jungle girl, adventuress - costumed and nude. All the works are captioned with the artist's name, the original usage & date as well as the copyright-holder. A number of large reproductions are 'well-presented', having been created by these artists: Rolf Armstrong, Gil Elvgren*, William George (2), Mitchell Hooks, Robert McGinnis (2)**, George Petty (2)*, Mark Schultz, Jim Silke (20), Dave Stevens, Mark Westermoe, and Al Williamson.
* - Note that Petty's, and Elvgren's, 'well-presented' non-Bettie pin-up pieces here can additionally be found so in their own collections on The List.
** - Note that the'well-presented' pieces here by McGinnis (both of Bettie) cannot additionally be found so in his own collections on The List.
other Dark Horse collections
Aliens / Predator - Panel To Panel
Another Chance To Get It Right
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