Pin-up model

"Pinup" redirects here. For other uses, seePin-up (disambiguation).

Betty Grable's famous pin-up photo from 1943

Apin-up modelis amodelwhosemass-producedpictures and photographs have wide appeal within thepopular cultureof a society. Pin-up models are usuallyglamour models,actresses, and fashion models whose pictures are intended for informal, aesthetic display, such as being pinned onto a wall. From the 1940s, pictures of pin-up girls were also known ascheesecakein the U.S.

The termpin-uprefers to drawings, paintings, and photographs of semi-nude women. The termpin-upwas first attested to in English in 1941.Images of pin-up girls were published in magazines and newspapers, and as postcards,lithographs,and calendars. The counterpart of the pin-up girl is the male pin-up, also known asbeefcake,including celebrated actors and athletes such as the actorJames Dean,the singerJim Morrison,and the modelFabio.

History

Pin-up girlnose arton the restored World War IIB-25JaircraftTake-off Time

From the early 19th century, when pin-up modeling had "theatrical origins";burlesqueperformers and actresses sometimes used photographic business cards to advertise shows. These promotional and business cards could be found backstage in almost every theater'sgreen room,pinned up or placed in "frames of the looking-glasses, in the joints of the gas-burners, and sometimes lying on top of the sacred cast-case itself."According to historian Maria Elena Buszek, "To understand both the complicated identity and the subversive nature of the 19th-century actress, one must also understand that the era's views on women's potential were inextricably tied to their sexuality, which in turn was tied to their level of visibility in the public sphere: regardless of race, class or background, it was generally assumed that the more public the woman, the more 'public,' or available, her sexuality." Being sexually fantasized, famous actresses in early-20th-century film were both drawn and photographed and put on posters to be sold for personal use.Among thecelebritieswho were consideredsex symbols,one of the most popular early pin-up girls wasBetty Grable,whose poster was ubiquitous in the lockers ofG.I.sduringWorld War II.

In Europe, prior to the First World War, the likes of "Miss Fernande" (who some identify asFernande Barrey), were arguably the world's first pin-ups in the modern sense. Miss Fernande displayed ample cleavage and full frontal nudity, and her pictures were cherished by soldiers on both sides of the First World War conflict.

Harry Wann paints a "pin-up" girl on aPT boat,Australia, 1944

Other pin-ups were artwork depicting idealized versions of beautiful or attractive women. An early example of the latter type was theGibson Girl,a representation of theNew Womandrawn byCharles Dana Gibson."Because the New Woman was symbolic of her new ideas about her sex, it was inevitable that she would also come to symbolize new ideas about sexuality."Unlike the photographed actresses and dancers generations earlier, art gave artists the freedom to draw women in many different ways.The 1932 Esquire "men's" magazine featured many drawings and "girlie" cartoons but was most famous for its "Vargas Girls".Prior to World War II, Vargas Girls were praised for their beauty and less focus was on their sexuality. However, during the war, the drawings transformed into women playing dress-up in military drag and drawn in seductive manners, like that of a child playing with a doll.Vargas Girls became so popular that from 1942 to 1946, owing to a high volume of military demand, "9 million copies of the magazine-without adverts and free of charge was sent to American troops stationed overseas and in domestic bases."The Vargas Girls were adapted asnose arton manyWorld War IIbomber andfighter aircraft;Generally, they were not seen negatively or as prostitutes, but mostly as inspiring female patriots that were helpful for good luck.

Among the other well-known artists specializing in the field wereEarle K. Bergey,Enoch Bolles,Gil Elvgren,George Petty,Rolf Armstrong,Zoë Mozert,Duane BryersandArt Frahm.Notable contemporary pin-up artists includeOlivia De Berardinis,known for her pin-up art ofBettie Pageand her pieces inPlayboy.

Feminism and the pin-up

Pin-up photo of singer Jackie Martinez

Maria Buszek (author ofPin-up Grrrls) said that the pin-up girl "has presented women with models for expressing and finding pleasure in their sexual subjectivity".

According toJoanne Meyerowitzin "Women, Cheesecake, and Borderline Material," an article inJournal of Women's History,"As sexual images of women multiplied in the popular culture, women participated actively in constructing arguments to endorse as well as protest them."

As early as 1869, women have been supporters and protesters of the pin-up. Female supporters of early pin-up content considered these to be a "positive post-Victorian rejection of bodily shame and a healthy respect for female beauty."

Additionally, pin-up allows for women to change the everyday culture. The models "succeed in the feminist aim of changing the rigid, patriarchal terms."

It has been argued by some critics that in the early 20th century that these drawings of women helped define certain body images—such as being clean, healthy, and wholesome—and were enjoyed by both men and women, and that as time progressed, these images changed from respectable to illicit.

Conversely, female protesters argued that these images were corrupting societal morality and saw these public sexual displays of women as lowering the standards of womanhood, destroying their dignity, reducing them to mere objects to pleasure men and therefore harmful to both women and young adolescents.

Pin-up modeling has been described as asubculturethat is invested in promoting positive body images and a love for one's sexuality, "pin-up would also find ways to... encourage the erotic self-awareness and self expression of real women".

Hair and makeup style

The classic style of the pin-up originates back from the 1940s. Due to the shortages of materials during World War II, this period of makeup is considered the "natural beauty" look.The US was immersed inwar-time economy,which put distribution restrictions on consumer goods.General rationing was supported; women applied mild amounts of products.

Pin-up style makeup products consisted of:

• Foundation – A cream base, liquid foundation that matched their natural skin tone
• Compact Powders – used to set the foundation and even the overall complexion
• Eyes and brows – neutral contour on brow bone and lid. Eyebrows were shaped but kept full
• Eyeliner – the wing effect became popular by the 1950s
• Lashes – extended the barriers of the eye to appear slightly larger
• Blush – pastel and rose colors applied to the apple of the cheek
• Lips – vibrant red and matte color, applied to look plumper.

In the 1950s, the overall look was the red lip was often matched with rosy cheeks. Eyeliner became bold and began to be more commonly used to make the eye appear larger. Natural eyebrows were embraced, as opposed to the thin brows of the 1920s and '30s. In the 1940s, brows were shaped and clean but filled in with a pencil to appear fuller.

Lipstick "turned into a symbol of resilient femininity in the face of danger"and was seen as a way to boost morale during the war. The shape of the lip was also iconic of the 1940s. The lips were painted on to look plumper; a broad outline of the lip was added for roundness. This fuller look is known as the "Hunter's Bow", invented byMax Factor.

The pin curl is a staple of the pin-up style, as "women utilized pin curls for their main hair curling technique".Originating in the 1920s from the "water-waving technique", the hair style of the 1940s consisted of a fuller, gentle curl. The drying technique consists of curling a damp piece of hair, from the end to the root and pin in place. Once the curl is dry, it is brushed through to create the desired soft curl, with a voluminous silhouette.

Victory rollsare also a distinctive hairstyle of the pin-up. The Victory roll is curled inward and swept off the face and pinned into place on the top of the head. Soft curls, achieved through the pin curl technique, finish the look of pin-up.

As a makeup style, the classic pin-up underwent a revival in modern fashion. The red lip and winged eyeliner made a re-emergence in 2010, with singerKaty Perrybeing the most accessible example of modern pin-up makeup.

Some people believe there is a lack of representation in the media ofBlackwomen as pin-up models, even though they were just as influential to the construction of the style.

Pin-up in the contemporary age

Although pin-up modeling is associated withWorld War IIand the 1950s, it developed into a subculture which can be seen represented in the styles of some celebrities and public figures.Pamela Andersonwas considered the "perennial pin-up" due to decades' worth of modeling forHugh Hefner'sPlayboymagazine.The American singerLana Del Rey,whose style is comparable to that of the classic pin-up model, has performed a song called "Pin Up Galore".Beyoncéhas recorded a song titled "Why Don't You Love Me,"which pays tribute to the American pin-up queen of the 1950s,Bettie Page.TheburlesqueperformerDita Von Teeseis often referred to as a modern pin-up. Von Tesse has appeared in a biographical film about Bettie Page,Bettie Page Reveals All,in which Von Teese helps to define pin-up.Katy Perrymakes use of the ideas associated with pin-up modeling, and has included these in music videos and costumes. TheVictoria's Secret Fashion Showcan be comparable to burlesque show, whereas their yearly advent calendar can compare to pin-up in general.

The pin-up modeling subculture has produced magazines and forums dedicated to its community.Delicious Dolls,a magazine that began in 2011 and has both a print and digital version, was described in 2015 as "the most-liked" pin-up magazine in the world. One of the magazine's mission statements is "to promote and showcase retro and modern pin-up girls." Another well known modern pin-up magazine featuring pin-ups in vintage dress,Retro Lovely,is the modern day pin-up magazine with the most sold digital and print copies. Within this subculture, there are opportunities to perform in pin-up contests, including one which takes place during the Viva Las Vegasrockabillyfestival.

African-American pin-up

Josephine Bakerin a banana skirt from the Folies Bergère productionUn Vent de Folie,1927

ThoughMarilyn MonroeandBettie Pageare often cited as the classic pin-up, there were manyBlackwomen who were also considered to be impactful. In the 1920s the most notable black burlesque dancer wasJosephine Baker.Dorothy DandridgeandEartha Kittalso added to the pin-up style of their time, using their looks, fame, and personal success. African-American pin-up finally gained a platform when the magazineJet,which published material related to the African-American community, was created in 1951.Jetsupported pin-up with their full-page feature called "Beauty of the Week", where African-American women posed in swimsuits and the like. This was intended to showcase the beauty African-American women possessed in a world where their skin color was under constant scrutiny. It was not until 1965 thatJennifer Jacksonbecame the first African American to be published inPlayboyas Playmate of the Month. 1990 marked the first year thatPlayboy's Playmate of the Year was an African-American woman,Renee Tenison.Historically, Black women in pin-up are still not as common as their white counterparts. However, the recent revival of pin-up style has propelled many Black women today to dabble with and make works based on the classic pin-up look to create their own standards of beauty. In Jim Linderman's self-published book,Secret History of the Black Pin Up,he describes the lives and experiences of African-American pin-up models.

Gallery

• 
  Marilyn Monroeposing for a postcard photographc. 1940s
• 
  Bettie Page,a highly popular 1950s pin-up model
• 
  An unidentified pin-up model in front of a 1955FordFairlane
• 
  Nancy Porter pin-up from June 1945
• 
  Audrey Totterpin-up from August 1945

See also

• Alberto Vargas
• Bad girl art
• Bombshell (slang)
• Centerfold
• Firefighter calendar
• Glamour photography
• Good girl art
• Gravure idols
• Irving Klaw
• List of pin-up artists
• Nose art
• Nude calendar
• Page 3
• SuicideGirls
• Sweater girl

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Ayto, John (2006).Movers and shakers: a chronology of words that shaped our age.Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-861452-7.
• Buszek, Maria Elena (2006).Pin-up grrrls: feminism, sexuality, popular culture.Duke University Press.ISBN0-8223-3746-0.
• Meyerowitz, Joanne (Fall 1996)."Women, Cheesecake, and Borderline Material: Responses to Girlie Pictures in the Mid-Twentieth-Century U.S."Journal of Women's History.8(3): 9–35.doi:10.1353/jowh.2010.0424.S2CID144620172.
• Ross, Andrew (1989).No Respect: Intellectuals and Popular Culture.Routledge.ISBN0-415-90036-0.

Further reading

• Collins, Max Allan (2000)For the Boys: the racy pin-ups of World War II.Portland, OR: Collectors Press (reissued by MBI Publishing Company, St Paul, MN, 2002)ISBN0-7603-1472-1

External links

• 50 Years of American Pin-Ups– slideshow by The Week UK
• The Pin Up– The Pin Up Magazine for more information on Pin Up Girls from 2000s