Blog

VIntage Pinup Artist Master : George Petty

George Petty.

All props to Olivia for making a branding sensation on pinup art. Much love and respect to her amazing work. However I have to school the new generation of pinup fans who have no clue who came before her.

George Petty was an artist who highly inspirational to her work as well as Vargas, Gil Elvgren and countless other pinup artist over the last 70 years. He help pioneer every pose, look and pinup cliche of the entire genre imitated by the new wave of retro pinup photographers to this day.

He was responsible what was known as the Petty Girl from 1933- 1956 Seen on tens of millions of calendars, magazine centerfolds, advertisements, posters, and billboards as well as a great number of pin-up ads for Pepsi Cola and Time magazine front cover of Rita Hayworth.

In Fawcett Publications' True magazine, the Petty Girl began appearing every month as either a centrefold or full-page illustration. The magazine published best-selling Petty Girl calendars in 1947 and 1948 that contained some of the artist's finest work. 

The Petty Girl had a mischievous, engaging smile and a special twinkle in her eyes. Long-limbed and well endowed, she was a slick, supple, and alluring creature. 

 

*Note the "betty page-esuqe" image 10 - 15 years before the real Betty Page came on the scene.