The image most indelibly linked to the term Pin-Up Girl is a busty, longlegged, beautiful woman posing provocatively on calendars, posters, and in magazines primarily during the World War II years, most often in the U.S. military’s Yank magazine. These images make up the quintessential and most recognizable Pin-Up Girls, although they are only representative of a specific era in pin-up history. The Pin-Up Girl has actually been around since the late 19th century. The pin-up genre ran the gambit, both in art and photography, from simply the image of a glamorous and beautiful woman to what was considered quite risqué before the swinging sixties—total nudity. Many Pin-Up Girls made a mark for themselves later as models or actresses, but the launching pad of their careers was a growing market for these “cheesecake” images. Today, sex and nudity are no longer taboo. In the midst of the blatant exhibitionism we find ourselves surrounded by today, the descretion of pin-up is a welcome respite as well as a comforting recollection of years gone by. We invite you to take a stroll down memory lane and enjoy a more innocent time.
