A Snapshot of Pin-Up History
Military Soldier Idolizing and taking inventory of his Pin-Up collection
Did you know that THE PIN-UP MUSEUM gives back to those serving in the armed services?
Mamie Van Doren Looking Glamorous
Jayne Mansfield looking stunning in her yellow bathing suit.
Pinup History
The pinup girl phenomenon has its roots in the late 19th century, but it truly blossomed during World War II in the 1940s. Here's a brief overview of the history of pinup girls.
In the 1890s, actresses and models began posing for risqué photographs known as "French postcards" that were sold to the public. The concept of the pinup girl emerged from these early erotic images.Around 1917, during World War I, pinup girl images were seen on recruitment posters to further the war effort, realizing the appeal of such imagery. This marked the beginning of the pinup's association with military morale.
The Golden Age of pinups arrived during World War II in the 1940s. Pinup illustrations were widely used on recruitment posters, calendars, and to promote war bonds. The military even commissioned pinup artists to boost soldiers' morale with erotic images. Soldiers plastered pinup art on barracks walls, ships, submarines, and even inside their helmets as a reminder of what they were fighting for back home. Painting pinup images on the noses of planes also became a trend.Some of the most iconic 1940s and 1950s pinup models were Betty Grable, Bettie Page, Rita Hayworth, and Marilyn Monroe. Grable's famous bathing suit poster became one of the best-selling pinups of all time. During the 1950s, Bettie Page took the Pin-Up illustration art that had been so popular and transformed it to photography more than ever, becoming the first famous pinup model, coined The Queen of Pin-Ups. Also, in the 1950s, the pinup look continued evolving with the creation of Playboy Magazine and international stars like Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren embodying the style. Therefore, we'll take a look at the impact from the 1940s through the end of the 1970s.
Pin-Ups remain an influential part of fashion and pop culture as we see it today. We'll certainly delve into the modern Pin-Ups embracing the vintage-inspired aesthetic from the 1980s to present.
A Billy DevorSS Illustration
THE PIN-UP MUSEUM respects the Art History of Pin-Up Illustration, including today's Fan Art that we'll share with you the museumgoer