Commissioned for the 1930 General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, this painting depicts a young woman standing on the edge of a cliff, back arched, her hands lifting her hair, clearly enjoying the sun on her face and the wind whipping through her hair and clothing. Distant mountains and a “Parrish blue” sky with fluffy white clouds make up the background. A blue river winds below the cliff.

Parrish’s youngest child, Jean, born in 1911, posed for Ecstasy just before leaving for Smith College. Jean was the only child to follow her parents’ profession. She also posed for Parrish more often than her three older brothers, Dillwyn, Max Jr., and Stephen. Jean also modeled for Mary, Mary Quite Contrary (1921), Jack and the Beanstalk (1923), Evening (1921 or 1944), Daybreak (1922, standing girl), Knave of Hearts (1922, Prince), Stars (1926), and Dreaming (1928).

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1931.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1932.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1933. The artist painted the figures out after General Electric’s use.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1934. Poor Kathleen: Parrish painted her out as early as February 1935. He was getting tired of painting “girls on rocks.”

This is just one of several pictures that Parrish revisited to remove the figures and turn into a landscape.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1920.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1921.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1925.

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1923

General Electric Mazda Lamp Calendar, 1922.