Bettie Page Mermaid (Up Periscope)

Olivia de Berardinis (b. 1948, USA) “Bettie Page as Mermaid” (aka “Up Periscope”) Issued in 1990, this pin-up image is an unframed limited edition lithograph in color on silk coated paper, signed ‘Olivia’ and designated number XXI/XXV in pencil, with two embossed seals reading ‘Olivia’ and ‘ROBERT BANE LTD. INC. MCMXC’, and measuring 38 x 26 inches. (A regular edition of 450 was also released.)

Olivia is known for her pin-up/cheesecake style artwork who contributed to Playboy Magazine. Bettie Page was a popular model in the 1950’s known as the ‘Queen of Pin-ups’. This iconic image of Page in a black body suit and latex gloves dressed as a mermaid is based on the original 30 x 40-inch painting titled “Up Periscope” created using acrylics on board.