untitled (gatefold), Alberto Vargas

Artwork Overview

1896–1982
untitled (gatefold), circa 1945
Where object was made: United States
Material/technique: watercolor; airbrushing
Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 55.6 x 75.9 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 21 7/8 x 29 7/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 24 x 32 in
Credit line: Gift of Esquire, Inc.
Accession number: 1980.0624
Not on display

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Images

Label texts

Inked Bodies
Sailor girls were one popular theme for pin-up tattoos in the 20th century. The models’ poses accentuate their sexuality while their doll-like complexions preserve their perceived innocence and cement their status as passive objects waiting for men to return home from war. As this woman grabs her hat and smiles demurely at the viewer, it could be an accident that her dress rides up (it isn’t).
Exhibition Label: "Alberto Vargas: The Esquire Pinups," Sep-2001, Stephen Goddard, Maria Buszek This WAVE studies a semaphore primer. The book appears to be open to a key to the alphabet in semaphore, a means of communicating with two flags.

Exhibitions

Stephen Goddard, curator
2003
Maria Buszek, curator
Stephen Goddard, curator
2001