Doug With The Running Man Painting
Running Man. Painting Artist Video Interview
Despite the circular background device remaining in the same position as its twinned painting (Running Woman), there is a reversal in the direction of the action.
The male character, here, is facing outwards.
However, he is not necessarily running away, but effectively running into a tunnel where the rings, together with the flattening pattern of his suit, offer the viewport of multiple planes of perspective presented as the layers he is navigating.
The female figure is on a plain panel and framed as if in a doorway.
The intersecting areas between the right panel and the circle contain seemingly abstract patterns but are reminiscent of the typical 1950s patterns and colours found on home decor and crockery of the time.
The scantily-clad female is a recurring character throughout several of Doug’s paintings and pays homage to one of his favourite iconic pin-up models from the 1950s, Bettie Page.
Bettie Mae Page (Born April 22, 1923) was an American model who gained notoriety in the 1950s for her pin-up photos She was often referred to as the “Queen of Pinups”: her long jet-black hair, blue eyes, and trademark bangs have influenced artists for generations.
After her death, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner called her “a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society” Bettie Page on Wikipedia
