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'''Alberto Vargas''' ([[1896]]–[[1982]]) was a noted painter of [[pin-up]] girls and [[erotica]]. His subjects were called '''Varga Girls'''. Born in [[Arequipa]], [[Peru]], '''Joaquin Alberto Vargas y Chavez''' came to the [[United States]] in [[1916]]. He is perhaps most famous for his 16 years illustrating for [[Playboy]] magazine, during the [[1960s]] and [[1970s]].
'''Alberto Vargas''' ([[1896]]–[[1982]]) was a noted painter of [[pin-up]] girls and [[erotica]]. Born in [[Arequipa]], [[Peru]], '''Joaquin Alberto Vargas y Chavez''' came to the [[United States]] in [[1916]] after studying art in Europe prior to World War I. His early career included work as an artist for the [[Ziegfeld Follies]] and for many Hollywood studios. He became famous in the 1940s as the creator of iconic World War II era pin-ups for [[Esquire_magazine]] known as "Varga Girls." The [[nose_art]] of many World War II aircraft was adopted from thses Esquire pin-ups.


[[Image:alberto_vargas_young.gif|thumb|Alberto Vargas in New York, ca. [[1919]].]]
His pictures would often portray, elegantly dressed, semi-[[nude]] to nude women of idealized proportions; large [[breast]]s, curved waists, trimmed [[pubic hair]], etc. Vargas's artistic trait would be slender [[finger]]s and [[toe]]s, the nails of which were often painted red.

A legal dispute with Esquire magazine over the use of the name "Varga" resulted in a judgment against Vargas and he struggled financially until the 1960's when [[Playboy]] magazine began to use his work as "Vargas Girls." His career flourished and he had major exhibitions of his work all over the world. The death of his wife Anna Mae in 1974 left him devastated and he stopped painting. The publication of his autobiography in 1978 renewed interest in his work and brought him partially out of his self-imposed retirement to do a few works such as album covers for [[Bernadette Peters]] and [[the Cars]]. He died of a stroke on Dec. 30, ][1982]], at the age of 86.

Many of Vargas’ works from his period with Esquire are now held by the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, which was given those works in 1980 along with a large body of other art from Esquire Magazine.<ref>[http://www.spencerart.ku.edu/vargas/goddard.htm ''Alberto Vargas and the Esquire Pinup'' Stephen Goddard, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas]</ref>.

His work was typically a combination of [[watercolor]] and [[airbrush]]. His mastery of the airbrush is acknowledged by the fact that the highest achievement in the community of airbrush artistry is the Vargas Award, awarded annually by ''Airbrush Action'' magazine. His images would often portray elegantly dressed, semi-[[nude]] to nude women of idealized proportions. Vargas's artistic trait would be slender [[finger]]s and [[toe]]s, the nails of which were often painted red.

Vargas is widely regarded as the one of the finest artists in his genre. In addition to his work as an artist, he also served as a judge for the [[Miss_Universe]] beauty contest in 1956-58.<ref>[http://www.pageant-almanac.com/miss-universe/judges.php Pageant Almanac of the Miss Universe Pageant.]</ref>.


[[Image:The Cars - Candy-O.jpg|thumb|He designed the cover of [[The Cars]] album ''[[Candy-O]]''.]]
[[Image:The Cars - Candy-O.jpg|thumb|He designed the cover of [[The Cars]] album ''[[Candy-O]]''.]]
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==References==
==References==

* ''Alberto Vargas: Works from the Max Vargas Collection'', by Reid Stewart Austin, Hugh Hefner. 144pp (2006) (ISBN 978-0821257920).
* ''Vargas'', by Reid Austin and Alberto Vargas. 127 pp. (1978) (ISBN 0-517-530473 ) (autobiography).
* ''Varga. The Esquire Years. A catalogue Raisonne.'' 176 pp (1987) (ISBN 0-912383-48-8 ).
* ''The Great American Pin-Up'', by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel, ISBN 3-8228-1701-5
* ''The Great American Pin-Up'', by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel, ISBN 3-8228-1701-5
* ''Vargas'', by Benedikt Taschen, text by Astrid Conte. 79 pp. (1990) (ISBN 3-89450-063-8).


==External links==
==External links==
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* [http://www.bpib.com/illustra2/vargas.htm Alberto Vargas Biography]
* [http://www.bpib.com/illustra2/vargas.htm Alberto Vargas Biography]
* [http://fineart.elib.com/fineart.php?prev=Ethnicity/Peruvian-American&dir=Site_index%2FPeruvian-American%2FVargas Further gallery of his work]
* [http://fineart.elib.com/fineart.php?prev=Ethnicity/Peruvian-American&dir=Site_index%2FPeruvian-American%2FVargas Further gallery of his work]
*[http://www.vargascollector.com Gallery of early and lost works]


{{painter-stub}}
{{painter-stub}}

Revision as of 19:15, 26 January 2007

Alberto Vargas (1896–1982) was a noted painter of pin-up girls and erotica. Born in Arequipa, Peru, Joaquin Alberto Vargas y Chavez came to the United States in 1916 after studying art in Europe prior to World War I. His early career included work as an artist for the Ziegfeld Follies and for many Hollywood studios. He became famous in the 1940s as the creator of iconic World War II era pin-ups for Esquire_magazine known as "Varga Girls." The nose_art of many World War II aircraft was adopted from thses Esquire pin-ups.

Alberto Vargas in New York, ca. 1919.

A legal dispute with Esquire magazine over the use of the name "Varga" resulted in a judgment against Vargas and he struggled financially until the 1960's when Playboy magazine began to use his work as "Vargas Girls." His career flourished and he had major exhibitions of his work all over the world. The death of his wife Anna Mae in 1974 left him devastated and he stopped painting. The publication of his autobiography in 1978 renewed interest in his work and brought him partially out of his self-imposed retirement to do a few works such as album covers for Bernadette Peters and the Cars. He died of a stroke on Dec. 30, ][1982]], at the age of 86.

Many of Vargas’ works from his period with Esquire are now held by the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, which was given those works in 1980 along with a large body of other art from Esquire Magazine.[1].

His work was typically a combination of watercolor and airbrush. His mastery of the airbrush is acknowledged by the fact that the highest achievement in the community of airbrush artistry is the Vargas Award, awarded annually by Airbrush Action magazine. His images would often portray elegantly dressed, semi-nude to nude women of idealized proportions. Vargas's artistic trait would be slender fingers and toes, the nails of which were often painted red.

Vargas is widely regarded as the one of the finest artists in his genre. In addition to his work as an artist, he also served as a judge for the Miss_Universe beauty contest in 1956-58.[2].

File:The Cars - Candy-O.jpg
He designed the cover of The Cars album Candy-O.

See also

References

  • Alberto Vargas: Works from the Max Vargas Collection, by Reid Stewart Austin, Hugh Hefner. 144pp (2006) (ISBN 978-0821257920).
  • Vargas, by Reid Austin and Alberto Vargas. 127 pp. (1978) (ISBN 0-517-530473 ) (autobiography).
  • Varga. The Esquire Years. A catalogue Raisonne. 176 pp (1987) (ISBN 0-912383-48-8 ).
  • The Great American Pin-Up, by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel, ISBN 3-8228-1701-5
  • Vargas, by Benedikt Taschen, text by Astrid Conte. 79 pp. (1990) (ISBN 3-89450-063-8).
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  1. ^ Alberto Vargas and the Esquire Pinup Stephen Goddard, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas
  2. ^ Pageant Almanac of the Miss Universe Pageant.
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