Charlene
1974
Ed Paschke American, 1939-2004
United States
Earning BFA and MFA degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Paschke was fascinated by the forbidden allure offered by the fringes of society, especially strippers and sideshow performers. Even though the female in Charlene has many of the hallmarks of “traditional” beauty, including an hourglass figure and an enticing ensemble, Paschke depicted her as sallow, veiny, and skeletal—suggesting an alternative attractiveness and underscoring her individuality.
Colored pencil, with blue and black ballpoint pen over graphite, on cream wove paper