Anchors and Stars
View Similar Items
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Alberto VargasAnchors and Stars1940
1940
About the Item
- Creator:Alberto Vargas (1896 - 1982, Peruvian)
- Creation Year:1940
- Dimensions:Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU130145290
Alberto Vargas
Alberto Vargas (1896-1982) was born in Arequipa, Peru, in 1896, the son of a successful photographer, and was educated in Switzerland. Arriving in New York in 1916, he was determined to stay in America and pursue what became an illustrious career. His name has become synonymous with pin-up girls, but in the early 1940s, he was just a guy hired by Esquire magazine to imitate departed star George Petty, who bolted over pay. Vargas initially aped Petty's sleek women with their telephone posing and large-hat lounging; soon, however, his own distinctive, delicate watercolor style emerged. His wide-eyed wonder- women rivaled Betty Grable as the ultimate pin-up girl of World War II. Vargas, who signed his Esquire work "Varga", had already achieved some notoriety for his Ziegfeld Follies and movie poster art. But Esquire made him famous, though he was paid poorly and, like Petty, eventually quit. Legal problems over ownership of his work, even of his own signature, plagued him. But late in his life, Vargas was given a second shot at fame and fortune by longtime fan Hugh Hefner. His regular Playboy slot in the 1960s and '70s elevated Vargas to a pinnacle eclipsing Petty. One of the true giants of American illustration, Alberto Vargas has created an art style so sensuous, so exquisite, that for the past six decades his magnificent paintings of women have come to embody the fantasies of three generations of women and men around the world. His work also appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Theatre Magazine, and Tattler. He died in December 1982.
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 1992
1stDibs seller since 2012
27 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 14 hours
More From This SellerView All
- SerrenadeBy Sacha ZalioukLocated in West Hollywood, CAA monumental watercolor on paper, painted in Paris by Russian artist Sacha Zaliouk. Zaliouk moved to Paris in the early 1920's and became an artist and illustrator, becoming part ...Category
1920s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor
- Femmes FatalBy Thelma TerrellLocated in West Hollywood, CAOur Gallery acquired the estate of a Northern California artist, Thelma Terrell. Terrell lived in Oakland and was an illustrator and professional graphic artist. "Femmes Fatal" is a...Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor
- Artist and MuseBy Antoine DerouxLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a monumental vintage oil painting by French artist Antoine DeRoux. “Artist and Muse” is an original oil on canvas, signed, dated 1934, with an image dimension of 37.5 ...Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
Price Upon Request - La MaisonBy Jessica RiceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a just discovered original oil painting, "La Maison", by Belgian artist Jessica Rice (1942-2016.) This painting was just discovered wrapped and stored within the artists ...Category
Early 2000s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
MaterialsOil
Price Upon Request - Love LettersBy Jessica RiceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a just discovered original oil painting, "Love Letters", by Belgian artist Jessica Rice (1942-2016.) This painting was just discovered wrapped...Category
Early 2000s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
MaterialsOil
Price Upon Request - BackstageBy Paul Alex DeschmackerLocated in West Hollywood, CA"Backstage", is a large theatrical Art Deco painting by French artist Paul Alex Deschmacker. The painting depicts two theater performers, one se...Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
You May Also Like
- Optimism and Pessimism, 1927 (Harper's Bazar Cover - May 1929)By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTOptimism and Pessimism, created in 1927, was the cover design for Harper's Bazar in May 1929. This is a gouache painting on board, signed recto 'Erté' lower right in the image, and f...Category
20th Century Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Les Rois des Lègendes, Costume pour femme ésclave, 1919By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTLes Rois des Lègendes, Costume pour femme ésclave from 1919 is a gouache painting on black paper, 10.75 x 9 inches, framed in a custom, closed-corner, Art Deco frame, 24 x 20 inches....Category
20th Century Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Untitled Fashion Design, 1920By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTUntitled (Fashion Design) was created for Harper's Bazar and appeared in the February, 1920 edition of the magazine. This is a gouache painting on tissue paper measuring approximately 10 x 6.5 inches and framed in a custom, closed-corner Art Deco...Category
20th Century Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Troisemmè Dame, 1919By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTTroisemmè Dame from 1919 is a gouache painting on paper, 12 x 9.5 inches, framed in a custom, closed-corner, Art Deco frame to 20.25 x 18 inches. Signed recto 'Erté' mid lower right ...Category
20th Century Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Demeter (Les Idoles, Folies Bergère), 1924By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTDéméter from Les Idoles, Folies Bergère was created in 1924 and is a gouache on paper measuring approximately 14.75 x 10.5 inches. Framed in a custom, closed-corner Art Deco...Category
20th Century Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- The Treasures of Indo-China, 1922By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTThe Treasures of Indo-China, created in 1922, is a gouache on paper, 15 x 11.25 inches and framed in a custom, closed-corner Art Deco frame. Signed rec...Category
20th Century Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper