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. His wide-eyed wonder- women rivaled Betty Grable as the ultimate pin-up girl of World War II. 

His early career in New York included work as an artist for the Ziefeld Follies and for many Hollywood studios. 

Vargas became famous in the 1940s as the creator of iconic World War-II era pin-ups for Esquire magazine known as "Vargas Girls." Between 1940 and 1946 Vargas produced 180 paintings for the magazine.  The nose art of many American and Allied World War II aircraft was inspired and adapted from these Esquire pin-ups.

 He struggled financially until 1959 when Playboy magazine began to use his work. Over the next 16 years he produced 152 paintings for the magazine.  His career flourished and he had major exhibitions of his work all over the world.

Vargas is widely regarded as one of the finest artists in his genre.