untitled (gatefold)

Alberto Vargas, artist

1896–1982

untitled (gatefold), circa 1944

Portfolio/Series title: published in Esquire magazine, November 1944, page 45

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: airbrushing; watercolor

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 75.9 x 55.7 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 29 7/8 x 21 15/16 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 32 x 24 in

Credit line: Gift of Esquire, Inc.

Accession number: 1980.0612

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Alberto Vargas: The Esquire Pinups," Sep-2001, Stephen Goddard, Maria Buszek
This figure with airbrushed gown recalls the famous “Memphis Belle” pinup (owned by the Spencer Museum of Art) that was designed by Vargas’ predecessor at Esquire, George Petty. Petty’s pinup was used as the mascot of one of the most acclaimed aircraft of the war, a B-17 that was the first bomber in the German theater to complete 25 missions without losing a single crew member. Vargas designs also adorned many aircraft and at least one submarine (see the exhibited gatefold of August 1944). Vargas never turned down a request for a mascot design for the military.