Alberto Vargas (Peruvian/American, 1896-1982). A Sunny Disposition, True: The Man's Magazine interior illustration, Apri...

Description

Alberto Vargas (Peruvian/American, 1896-1982)
A Sunny Disposition, True: The Man's Magazine interior illustration, April 1952
Watercolor on board
29-1/8 x 20 inches (74.0 x 50.8 cm)
Signed lower right

After leaving the magazine in 1946, Vargas sued Esquire for the rights to his Varga Girls. The legal battle would continue for 4 years. The legal battle would continue for 4 years and result in the artist not only losing the rights to any of his artwork utilizing "Varga" including his 162 pinups painted for Esquire, but also the use of the name, his name, itself.

In 1950, Alberto Vargas was jobless, his loving wife ill, and on the verge of losing his home. It was in this low moment, that Vargas created a series of twelve nudes later known as the Legacy Nudes. The artist then sent transparencies of these nudes to every men's magazine he could find including True magazine looking for work. After explaining to the art director, Al Allard, that he was not legally allowed to use the Varga name, Mr. Allard shrugged - they were interested in the art, not the name. Esquire went on to sue the artist for the works signed "Vargas" in True but ultimately failed. This win and the publication of his nine True Girls including the present work revitalized the artist and his career. Alberto Vargas was reborn.


More information about Alberto Vargas. See also: Vargas, Alberto Artist.



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