Vamps and Virgins

The Museum of Sex will be offering an exhibition of the history of American pinup photography.

The development of the pinup and its accompanying spread of scantily-clad ladies across American culture, from ads and billboards to TV, is easily the single most important development impacting women's rights, the history of sexuality, and feminism over the last century," says Ms. Kabat. "In this post-modern, post-Playboy world we're used to our pinups coming self-aware, self-assured and as self-described feminists, but it wasn't always the case."

At its inception erotic photography was far more explicit than contemporary images. Traded privately, these pictures now have a quaint feel with their couples (and threesomes, foursomes and more) sporting serious expressions and often matching costumes. Toned down as the images spread to the populace at large in postcard form, the pinup started to wear the camp, coy expressions that are the genre's hallmark, reaching her highpoint with Bettie Page. After Page, the style changed again, turning towards the explicit look of the contemporary centerfold.

"Looking at thousands of images of mute women, one can only wonder what they would say about their images and how they were used. Unfortunately most are still silent witnesses to what has been one of the most important cultural events in history," Kabat continues.

'Vamps & Virgins: The Evolution of the American Pinup 1860-1960' Opens in October 2004