The lost art of the American pin-up

Jake Wallis Simons, for CNN
4 minute read
Updated 5:39 AM EDT, Fri October 17, 2014
For generations, the fantastical pin-up girl has been an important part of American culture, and more recently around the world. A major new set of books, <a href="http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/popculture/all/01116/facts.the_art_of_pin_up.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>The Art of Pin Up</strong></a>, which is published by Taschen, is a landmark in the burgeoning appeal of the art form.
The allure of pin-ups —
For generations, the fantastical pin-up girl has been an important part of American culture, and more recently around the world. A major new set of books, The Art of Pin Up, which is published by Taschen, is a landmark in the burgeoning appeal of the art form.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
The artists were often accomplished painters in their own right, which lent their pin-up art a widely-respected artistic credibility.
The allure of pin-ups —
The artists were often accomplished painters in their own right, which lent their pin-up art a widely-respected artistic credibility.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
The images first shot to popularity during the Great Depression, and became an important part of morale during World War Two, when they were often painted on the fuselages of American airplanes.
The allure of pin-ups —
The images first shot to popularity during the Great Depression, and became an important part of morale during World War Two, when they were often painted on the fuselages of American airplanes.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
Notably, pin-up paintings were not intended for secret viewing by teenage boys. Instead, as the term 'pin-up' indicates, they were proudly displayed on walls.
The allure of pin-ups —
Notably, pin-up paintings were not intended for secret viewing by teenage boys. Instead, as the term 'pin-up' indicates, they were proudly displayed on walls.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
In the last 10 years, the cost of original pin-up art has sharply increased, even during the global recession of 2007-8.
The allure of pin-ups —
In the last 10 years, the cost of original pin-up art has sharply increased, even during the global recession of 2007-8.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
This suggests that the paintings have lost none of their reassuring appeal, even in the modern world, where sexual images are far more ubiquitous.
The allure of pin-ups —
This suggests that the paintings have lost none of their reassuring appeal, even in the modern world, where sexual images are far more ubiquitous.
Courtesy of Taschen
The popularity of the pin-up art form is also due to the fact that the models are invariably presented in innocent poses, as emblems of wholesome sexuality.
The allure of pin-ups —
The popularity of the pin-up art form is also due to the fact that the models are invariably presented in innocent poses, as emblems of wholesome sexuality.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
Although in many cases real-life models were used, their figures and poses were exaggerated to present an idealized vision of unattainable beauty.
The allure of pin-ups —
Although in many cases real-life models were used, their figures and poses were exaggerated to present an idealized vision of unattainable beauty.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
All the indications are that the popularity of pin-up art will only increase in the years to come, as the world becomes more complicated and uncertain.
The allure of pin-ups —
All the indications are that the popularity of pin-up art will only increase in the years to come, as the world becomes more complicated and uncertain.
Courtesy of TASCHEN
There is another reason behind the enduring appeal of the pin-up: the quality of the art itself. "Some of the artists were really very good," says Hanson.
The allure of pin-ups —
There is another reason behind the enduring appeal of the pin-up: the quality of the art itself. "Some of the artists were really very good," says Hanson.
Courtesy of Taschen
Why we all love the pin-ups of the past

Story highlights

Pin-up art is undergoing a massive resurgence

A decent painting will now sell for anything between $1,800 and $100,000

The appeal of pin-up art is not purely sexual; it is about a return to the ideal of feminine beauty of a bygone age.

CNN  — 

With all the sexy pictures on offer all around us, one would expect the titillating images of the early 20th Century to be all but forgotten.

But the opposite seems to be true. The “pin-up” art that was first produced in Thirties America is undergoing a strong resurgence in popularity.

Since 2000, prices for original pin-up art have gone up steadily, culminating in the 2011 sale of Gil Elvgren’s Gay Nymph for a cool $286,000.

A decent painting will now sell for anything between $1,800 and $100,000. And according to Dian Hanson, editor of a new history of the art form, pin-ups are here to stay.

“The ubiquity of pornography has made people draw close to something that is more polite, more restrained, that celebrates women for their beauty as well as their sexuality,” she says.

“These images represent a celebration of untouchable, unattainable female beauty. They were pin-ups – not intended to be hidden under a teenage boy’s mattress, but put up on the wall as a fantasy of perfection.

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“Contemporary people are nostalgic for the relative innocence and charm that they represent.”

The modern audience for pin-up art, she says, is in equal part male and female. This indicates that the appeal of the form is not purely sexual; instead, it is about a return to the ideal of feminine beauty of a bygone age.

The appeal of a more innocent age

Pin-up art is becoming part of a wider appetite for the more delicate sexual culture of decades gone by.

American actress Jane Russell poses for a pin-up painting
American actress Jane Russell poses for a pin-up painting
Courtesy of TASCHEN

The popularity of the new burlesque movement – led by the performer Dita von Teese – as well as the rising popularity of Bettie Page after her death, demonstrates a growing counterbalance for the atmosphere of aggressive sexuality that is increasingly common in the West.

It is undeniable that the paintings had little to do with reality. Hanson, who made her name as an editor of men’s magazines, at one point attempted to recreate the poses of the pin-up pictures for a retro cover feature.

“Women don’t actually look like that,” she says. “Even simple-looking poses could not be achieved by real women. It’s about a fantasy of exaggerated femininity, without an exaggerated sexuality.

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“The women are always innocent – their stocking tops are revealed by a gust of wind, not because they pick up their skirt to show you.”

A reassuring art form

Notably, the recession of 2007-8 did not cause the prices of pin-up work to fall.

“There is something reassuring and comforting about these images that makes them even more popular in times of hardship,” says Hanson.

“Pin-up really got started during the Great Depression in the United States, and took off during the War when people needed an escape.

“Pin-up girls were even painted on the side of Air Force planes. American propaganda focused on the things you were protecting at home rather than vilifying the enemy abroad.”

“They were never pictured as bad girls and always had ample, matronly bosoms, so they represented wholesomeness and the possibility of love, marriage and children after the War.”

Something in that message, she says, is attractive to people today, against the backdrop of the digital revolution, economic uncertainty and global instability.

But are they any good?

There is another reason behind the enduring appeal of the pin-up: the quality of the art itself.

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“Some of the artists were really very good,” she says. “People like Gil Elvgren, Rolf Armstrong, and Enoch Bolles painted other subjects beautifully as well.

“There were some who could paint a girl well but were not great artists. Their work doesn’t tend to be so popular.”

Another reason for the popularity of the form, says Hanson, is a growing sense of disaffection with the more dogmatic forms of feminism.

As she sees it, many people have grown weary of the “man-hating” aspects of the movement.

According to Hanson, on a fundamental level, pin-up girls make people feel that “all is right with the world.”

“At the same time,” she says, “they get your blood pumping. That’s a heady combination.”

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