Ren Wicks’ Bathing Witch, 1964
Back in February I started posting a series of classic pin-up witches, beginning with Gil Elvgren. Since then I have posted on George Petty, Alberto Vargas, Freeman Elliot and Bill Layne. I also promised to include Ren Wicks and so now, six months later, it is time to deliver!
The images above and below are from Harold’s Club [Reno] Calendar, 1964, featuring Girls of Fantasy by Ren Wicks. “Witch” is the image for September-October. At the end of the calendar appears a paragraph of description and explanation of the image. It reads, in part, “Witches were usually pictured as crafty old hags, but as you can see, our own lass has been masquerading in skulduggery. Here she bathes in scented waters, preparing to beguile some hapless male with the wizardry and magic of her charms.”
There are many details in this picture that are worth a closer look. Here are a few:
Wicks has included a hag mask so you know his model is a witch. See here for another example of the “pretty-witch with hag-mask” theme.
UPDATE: this next one is for Infidelis Maximus.
9 September 2007 at 8:51 AM
You missed the fishnet stockings and sexy lingerie hanging on the chair… :-)
9 September 2007 at 8:23 PM
I have added the lingerie for you. Enjoy!
Red Witch
10 September 2007 at 7:09 AM
Ah, very nice! Thanks!
11 September 2007 at 4:18 AM
This is stunning. Thanks for blogging it!
Indigo (from the list ;-)
13 September 2007 at 7:46 PM
Tasty.
26 October 2007 at 6:55 PM
I am absolutely Ga Ga over your collection and this blog!
Thanks for putting it together.
I have this picture which I found in a thrift store for 3 bucks!
It hangs in my bathroom.
27 October 2007 at 8:02 AM
Thanks Kitty.
Like you, I have often bought a picture that I liked the look of, and had it hanging around for years before I found out anything more about it. More often, I will see a picture I like online, but with no information about where it is from or who it is by.
Sometimes it takes a huge amount of time and effort to track down the first publication of these images and then get a copy of them for this blog.
So, it is particularly pleasing to know that I have helped you identify this image, and the Brocken Money too.
If you keep coming back I hope you will keep finding stuff you like!
Red Witch
14 April 2008 at 2:03 AM
thankyou for this page and thank for you providing verification that witches come in all shapes sizes and forms! Not all of us are green and hideous.
yours in seduction
Gilli the enchantress from chicago
18 May 2009 at 2:44 PM
[...] That quest led me here: Ren Wicks Bathing Witchk/ [...]
14 September 2009 at 1:52 AM
Wow! Thanks for posting this image. I think this is one of my favorite witch paintings ever.