Beschreibung:

A pencil on paper drawing depicting a woman wearing a sheer gown and high heels posed in a way to reflect her form; signed on the right-side border in pencil is "Vargas / Laguna / 15-8-55" [August 15, 1955]; (please note there is paper loss and slight tears around the borders but main image is not affected); an early work by the artist who would soon make drawings of pin-up girls a true art form in the pages of Playboy magazine during the next decade. Also included is a group of Vargas' personal materials: eight letters, dated from 1960 to 1974, typed on Playboy letterhead, addressed to the artist, all signed in blue fountain pen or ballpoint ink "Hef" [Hugh Hefner, founder, editor, and publisher of the magazine], relating to Vargas' work for the magazine; a 1955 canceled bank check signed by Vargas; numerous letters handwritten by Vargas to Hugh Hefner and other business associates (presumably the typed versions were mailed and these were saved for his files), mainly dating from the early 1960s; a green spiral notebook filled with a few more letters handwritten by Vargas, a 1954 contract signed by Vargas, a mimeographed drawing where Vargas practiced his signature on the verso numerous times; a hand-painted Christmas card, three magazines featuring artwork by Vargas (a 1963 Playboy, a 1947 Motion Picture, and a 1948 Scop [a UCLA magazine]; and two 1916 programs from Serge De Diaghileff's Ballet Ruse, both with ownership signatures penned in black fountain pen ink reading "Alberto Vargas" and both with beautiful color plates showing the dancers, many of whom are posed like Vargas' pin-up girls would be many years later; overall, a compelling archive related to a popular and influential 20th century artist. Drawing; 11 x 8 1/2in; Other Ephemera; Various Sizes