Art Nouveau- Where Pinups Got Their Start

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:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Cheret
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfons_Mucha
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt