PINUP ART
Added 2021-04-30 03:43:23 +0000 UTCPINUP ART:
World War II was responsible for a lot of young US men going overseas to fight.
Being away from wives and girl friends was not good for morale. Surprisingly the US army decided to unofficially encourage the dissemination of “pinup” art to boost morale. The term pinup was coined in the early 1940s because this art ended up being “pinned” onto the barrack walls, (and even painted onto airplane fuselages!).
An artist named George Petty, working for Esquire magazine, is credited with creating the seminal pinup beauty: scantly clad but totally wholesome. After he moved on from Esquire, his position was taken by a Peruvian artist named Alberto Vargas.
Vargas, who went on to work for Playboy too, is often recognized as the artists who took the pinup to its pinnacle. His old beat up paintings from his magazine days now sell for $30K and up.
Men were not the only artists creating pinup. One of the most popular artists from the mid century was a woman named Zoe Mozert, who created hundreds of cards, calendars and magazine illustrations. She often used her own self as a model, long before Cindy Sherman made a name with her self portraits.
Another female artist, known professionally by just her first name “Olivia,” became so famous for her pinups in the 1970s and 80s, Hef gave her her own page in each issue of Playboy.
PHOTO: Some folks have likened my photography to pinups, in that the emphasis is often on wholesome, radiant health, and a lack of overt sexuality.
When I met Aria I was struck by her 1950s Monroe vibe. She has an innocence and lack of self consciousness when nude that reminds me of the models from the pinup age. It was fun creating a modern homage to Vargas with her!
IG: @aria.vesper.love
