Varga first calendar
from 1941
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Alberto Vargas (1896 - 1982)
Born in 1896 in Peru, Alberto Vargas is the
son of a celebrated photograph, which helps him (as to Petty) to familiarise
with the airbrush painting. He studied the art in Switzerland and then
he set up in the U. S. because of the war. Fascinated by the Broadway
shows, he decided to employ his talent in the service of women's beauty
! ! ! His work carries mainly on the glorification of the women's beauty.
He will work for some time as free-lance illustrator of the shows programme,
the billboards of cinemas, etc… and he will meet the woman of his
life : Anna Mae Clift, a dancer of the group Ziegfeld Follies.
At the end of 1939, he meets a publisher of Esquire to replace George
Petty, he will sign his works Varga. His first calendar for Esquire is
published in 1941.
The success is dazzling, Esquire will sell thousands of calendars signed
Varga every year, sometimes two different in the same year. His exclusive
rights allow him to continue making portraits of the biggest stars of
cinema. The contract finished in 1946 which didn't prevent Esquire publishing
a calendar for 1947 and 1948. For some time, he devoted himself in cinema
billboards and portraits, then, from 1960 to 197* the monthly Playboy
offered in central page a pin up signed Varga, even that the name Varga
belonged to Esquire…
Varga used a thick paper with a mix of gouache and airbrush. The models
were drawn naked and clothes was added afterwards.
The calendars benefited from a large printing, they are not rare but as
Vargas is a very famous artist, they are in great demand. Note that the
paper used during the war and a bit after was of a poor quality and it's
normal that it yellowed.
The works of the Esquire period, especially during the war, are for some
the real magnificence. During the '60 and the start of the '70 yars, Vargas
made one Pin-up eatch month Playboy magazine.
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All
the Pin-up artists !!
