Pin-up illustrator Alberto Vargas's works circulated in Esquire magazine, then inspired World War II aircraft nose art. Transcribe his diary (1940-1944) to help us learn about his working relationship with Esquire magazine and its collapse.
Pin-up illustrator Alberto Vargas's works circulated in Esquire magazine, then inspired World War II aircraft nose art. Transcribe his diary (1940-1944) to help us learn about his working relationship with Esquire magazine and its collapse. Peruvian-born Hispanic-American illustrator Alberto Vargas (1896-1982) remains one of the most famous illustrators of pin-up girls, though his work spans other war-time and Hollywood studios work. From Ziegfield Follies to the pages of Playboy, Vargas' work was characterized by idealized female proportions and his work in Esquire as an illustrator catalyzed a rise to fame in the 1940s for World War II era pin-ups. Alberto Vargas' diary includes dated entries range from 1940 to 1944, with the bulk of entries detailing Vargas' business relationship David Smart, the president and publisher of Esquire magazine. The diary also contains dated and undated drafts of personal letters and a draft of an undated business letter to his attorney concerning possible settlements in the fraud case against Alfred and David Smart. Finally, included are two separate novel-like stories written in the third person about his artistic ambitions at the beginning of his career and his first encounters with his model, Anna Mae Clift, who was the perfect embodiment of the "Vargas Girl." Vargas married Anna Mae and she became central to his work as a model and manager. See more images and work by Alberto Vargas by exploring his papers held by the Archives of American Art.