Pin-up is a genre that originated in the United States in the 1930s, when illustrator George Petty's drawings were published. The girls on them were not characterized by special modesty, were dressed in frivolous short dresses and swimsuits, allowing you to admire their sharpened legs. And they were also very cheerful, and their good mood and the general positive mood of the drawings was transmitted to the audience, exhausted by the economic problems of the times of the “Great Depression”. Not surprisingly, such drawings became very popular.
Pin-up George Petty
When World War II broke out, American pilots and sailors were eager to place pin-ups on the fuselages of their planes and the walls of their cockpits, which, according to their commanders, boosted their morale and were therefore encouraged.
An airplane with a pin-up hottie.
Many illustrators living in the U.S., realized - this is the “gold mine”, so they began to draw pin-up on an industrial scale. Peruvian Alberto Vargas, who actively cooperated with the popular men's magazine “Esquire”, was the best at it. Vargas' pin-ups were more explicit than Petty's, the girls had very seductive and provocative forms that are rarely seen in real life, and they were wearing less and less clothes.
Pin-up Alberto Vargas
They didn't smile a strained Hollywood smile, but sighed languidly and showed a clear desire - in general, the dream of truckers and all bachelors, so posters with their image became an irrepressible element of truck cabs and bachelor apartments.
Pin-up by Alberto Vargas
Many aspiring actresses and models were happy to pose for pin-ups, although artists sometimes had to work on the resulting photo to bring their appearance up to pin-up standards, but what lady would refuse to look better in a drawing than in reality?
Model and the ultimate pin-up
One of the most famous models was Betty Grable. She starred in a tight-fitting swimsuit that looked very modest by today's standards, but by no means 1940 standards.
Betty Grable
The photo became so popular that it sold millions of copies and was later included in the list of “100 photos that changed the world”. All the ingredients of pin-up style are there, even if it is not a drawing, but a photograph.
But the real king of pin-up was Jill Elvgren. By that time he was already quite respected and sought-after artist, so he received a very favorable offer - to make a series of drawings with pin-up beauties, for each of which the publisher was obliged to pay 1 thousand dollars. The amount is very decent, and Elvgren gladly accepted it.
Jill Elvgren's pin-ups
He worked on calendars with pin-up beauties for 27 years, from 1945-1972, drawing 24 pictures each year. Back then, all advertising was mainly aimed at men - they were the ones who handled money and made decisions about big purchases. Therefore, advertisers flooded Elvgren with favorable offers, it was believed that his drawings and advertising in pin-up style perfectly attract potential buyers and did not spare money for royalties.
Coca-Cola commercials
Elvgren changed his drawing style - instead of inaccessible and femme fatale beauties, he started to draw ordinary pretty girls that you can see on the street.
Jill Elvgren's Pin-Up
In the drawings they got into small piquant situations; the hostess took a hot dish with the hem of a short dress, exposing her legs in black stockings, the archery shooter hit the dress, pulling it back, and a pretty girl, who had just showered and wrapped in a towel, had a long and interesting conversation with her girlfriend on the phone, leaving everyone to admire her shapely legs.
Jill Elvgren's Pin-Up
Elvgren perfectly managed to strike a balance between the racy and attractive nature of the girls without slipping into outright vulgarity. He also drew younger faces of girls than their bodies, and this combination of youthful innocence, relaxed behavior, which looked completely natural in the drawings, and rounded female charms drove men crazy.
Jill Elvgren's Pin-Up
It was a graphic embodiment of their desires, girls who can be met in ordinary life and easily fall in love. Elvgren managed to elevate even such a non-serious genre to the level of real art, which is not for everyone.
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