The end of the 19th century brought us
the curvy, flowing styling of Art Nouveau.
What better suiting movement to kick-start
the pinups of the mid 20th century?
Ok,
many will debate me on this. But I believe
painting a woman, solely for her beauty,
without the whole mythology behind it, didn’t
really get it’s full momentum, until Art
Nouveau came along. Maybe because it was
commercial art? Or maybe because it was about
time?
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - The Most
Famous Nouveau Artist
Henri de
Toulouse-Lautrec is probably most famous for
his wild depictions of the night life of the
Moulin Rouge.
These paintings were risque for their time (
“My god, woman! Cover your ankle!!” ), but
probably not considered more provocative than
what day-time TV allows in it’s ads, today:
Someone won’t like it, but it’ll appeal to
most people’s wild side. Lautrec may not have
all the detail that 1950’s pinups presented,
but he exhibits a the fun and sexiness of his
times.
Jules Chéret - The Father of the Modern
Poster
One look at Jules Chéret’s
illustrations and you can conjure up the
lightness of Elvgren’s old Coka Cola ads.
Wikipedia tells that:
pundits began calling him the "father of
the women's liberation." Females had
previously been depicted in art as
prostitutes or puritans, and the Cheréts —
as his women were popularly called — were
neither. It was freeing for the women of
Paris, and lead to a noticeably more open
atmosphere in Paris where women were able
to engage in formerly taboo activities,
such as wearing low-cut bodices and smoking
in public.
I bless any man who brought the
cleavage to modern society.
But on a more academic
note, I urge you to take a look at
Jules
Chéret’s posters. Note the tiny
details of dress, the vibrant use of
color and the “meaninglessness” of the
painting, meant only to seduce its
onlooker.
Alfons Mucha - Czech Beauty
Alfons
Mucha was born and lived most of his life in
Czechoslovakia. I think this attributes him
with his distinctive style. He did study in
Germany and Paris and lived in New York for a
four years, but I believe his basic essence
wasn’t altered. The Women in Mucha’s painings
are natural, beautiful and surrounded by
beauty. Their sexiness is an inherit trait.
Some are classical, some are modern, all are
regal and most look you straight in the eye.
Gustav Klimt - Budding Fun
Gustav
Klimt had his own idiosyncratic, decorative
language, but one thing is understood, all
around the world, women and beauty. It was
around the 1890’s that he adopted a style,
where the woman is the main subject of the
painting. Though most of Klimt’s images
aren’t as light as a 1950’s pinup, the roots
of fun were already beginning to take hold.
Especially in his fiery redheads, which
tended to be more risque than his brunettes.
While women have been depicted since art was
invented, it took a long time to get to the
look and feel of the 1950's pinup. Seeing the
development of pinups through time, is always
a fascinating journey.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did,
Additional
Resources:
Tags: Art Nouveau, 19th century art, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec,
Risque paintings, 1950's pinups, Alfons Mucha, Elvgren Coca Cola Ads,
Jules Chéret, Modern poster, Gustav Klimt, commercial art
