| Pinup Art |
A pin-up girl is a woman whose physical
attractiveness would entice one to place
a picture of her on a wall. The term was
first attested to in English in 1941;
however the practice is documented
back at least to the 1890s. The “pin up”
images could be cut out of magazines
or newspapers, or be from postcard or
chromo-lithographs, and so on. Such
photos often appear on calendars,
which are meant to be pinned up
anyway. Later, posters of “pin-up girls”
were mass-produced.
Many “pin ups” were photographs of
celebrities who were considered sex
symbols. One of the most popular early
pin-up girls was Betty Grable. Her
poster was ubiquitous in the lockers of
GIs during World War II. Others pin-ups
were artwork, often depicting idealized
versions of what some thought
particularly a beautiful or attractive
woman should look like. An early
example of the latter type was the
Gibson girl, drawn by Charles Dana
Gibson. The genre also gave rise to
several well-known artists specializing in
the field, including Alberto Vargas and
George Petty, and numerous lesser
artists such as Art Frahm.
attractiveness would entice one to place
a picture of her on a wall. The term was
first attested to in English in 1941;
however the practice is documented
back at least to the 1890s. The “pin up”
images could be cut out of magazines
or newspapers, or be from postcard or
chromo-lithographs, and so on. Such
photos often appear on calendars,
which are meant to be pinned up
anyway. Later, posters of “pin-up girls”
were mass-produced.
Many “pin ups” were photographs of
celebrities who were considered sex
symbols. One of the most popular early
pin-up girls was Betty Grable. Her
poster was ubiquitous in the lockers of
GIs during World War II. Others pin-ups
were artwork, often depicting idealized
versions of what some thought
particularly a beautiful or attractive
woman should look like. An early
example of the latter type was the
Gibson girl, drawn by Charles Dana
Gibson. The genre also gave rise to
several well-known artists specializing in
the field, including Alberto Vargas and
George Petty, and numerous lesser
artists such as Art Frahm.
Playboy created a sensation with their
centerfold of Marilyn Monroe in 1953.
Until that time, it was primarily Esquire
who provided opportunities for a
generation of pin-up artists, including
Ben-Hur Baz, Ernest Chiriaka, Mike
Ludlow and J. Frederick Smith. Although
Esquire had presented photographic
pinups previously, they never contained
overt nudity.
centerfold of Marilyn Monroe in 1953.
Until that time, it was primarily Esquire
who provided opportunities for a
generation of pin-up artists, including
Ben-Hur Baz, Ernest Chiriaka, Mike
Ludlow and J. Frederick Smith. Although
Esquire had presented photographic
pinups previously, they never contained
overt nudity.
The introduction of explicit men's
magazines (Penthouse introduced the
world to pubic hair in 1970) made such
innocent depictions seem quaint and
old-fashioned. Photography was a
quick and easy means to satisfy the
pressures of monthly deadlines.
Modern pin-up artists such as Hajime
Sorayama, Carlos Cartagena, Jennifer
Janesko, Alain Aslan and John Kacere
have turned their vision towards
photorealistic Pinup.
Classic Pinup Artists like Paul Butvila
have retained the innocents of the
modern girl with his realistic style.
Preffering to depict women as feminine
and sensual without having to show
"the naughty bits" Retro pinup art is
also a genre he like to paint.
magazines (Penthouse introduced the
world to pubic hair in 1970) made such
innocent depictions seem quaint and
old-fashioned. Photography was a
quick and easy means to satisfy the
pressures of monthly deadlines.
Modern pin-up artists such as Hajime
Sorayama, Carlos Cartagena, Jennifer
Janesko, Alain Aslan and John Kacere
have turned their vision towards
photorealistic Pinup.
Classic Pinup Artists like Paul Butvila
have retained the innocents of the
modern girl with his realistic style.
Preffering to depict women as feminine
and sensual without having to show
"the naughty bits" Retro pinup art is
also a genre he like to paint.
