For generations, the fantastical pin-up girl has been an important part of American culture, and more recently around the world. A major new set of books, The Art of Pin Up, which is published by Taschen, is a landmark in the burgeoning appeal of the art form.
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The allure of pin-ups —
The artists were often accomplished painters in their own right, which lent their pin-up art a widely-respected artistic credibility.
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The allure of pin-ups —
The images first shot to popularity during the Great Depression, and became an important part of morale during World War Two, when they were often painted on the fuselages of American airplanes.
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The allure of pin-ups —
Notably, pin-up paintings were not intended for secret viewing by teenage boys. Instead, as the term 'pin-up' indicates, they were proudly displayed on walls.
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The allure of pin-ups —
In the last 10 years, the cost of original pin-up art has sharply increased, even during the global recession of 2007-8.
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The allure of pin-ups —
This suggests that the paintings have lost none of their reassuring appeal, even in the modern world, where sexual images are far more ubiquitous.
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The allure of pin-ups —
The popularity of the pin-up art form is also due to the fact that the models are invariably presented in innocent poses, as emblems of wholesome sexuality.
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The allure of pin-ups —
Although in many cases real-life models were used, their figures and poses were exaggerated to present an idealized vision of unattainable beauty.
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The allure of pin-ups —
All the indications are that the popularity of pin-up art will only increase in the years to come, as the world becomes more complicated and uncertain.
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The allure of pin-ups —
There is another reason behind the enduring appeal of the pin-up: the quality of the art itself. "Some of the artists were really very good," says Hanson.
