In the 1950s abstract expressionism was in full flower. American magazine illustrations, on the other hand, remained fairly tight and realistic. Yet, these representational illustrations often contained abstract flurries of brush strokes and color, frequently in the tousled hair of stylish women. Andy Virgil Compare Coby Whitmore's treatment of hair... Coby Whitmore ...with Willem de Kooning's abstraction: de Kooning In fact, flipping through the typical illustrations in women's magazines in…