Earl Mayan is an accomplished artist-illustrator who did covers for the Saturday Evening Post. This intriguing work was most likely done for a magazine assignment. It seems clear that the artist is using a male friend to sit for the portrait of an aging conservatively dressed woman. Getting friends, associates or neighbors to be models was a common practice among illustrators who had limited budgets and crushing editorial deadlines. Although the storyline of the original article had most likely had nothing to do with "Drag Queen", sixty years after the painting was done it's most distinguishing characteristic is just that. I admit I am taking some creative license in making this bold statement based on how we view the work today. I do believe that it was the artist's intent just to do a Norman Rockwell type of all American type portrait. Illustrators had editorial and publishing deadlines and had to execute complex work under stress. Nonetheless, the work is rendered in an ultra-realist style. The portrait is masterfully crafted in great detail and captures the sitter's subtle expressions and essence. br "Illustration Art" as a collecting category is very special and undervalued. br There are few artists alive today who have the academic skill, training and knowledge to do illustration art. br Moreover, it's overlooked by the traditional art establishment because there are so few dealers in it and it's not marketed a lot. br With the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art under construction, more interest will be coming to great American illustrators. br Work is framed. Framed it is approximately 20 x 16. Oil on board