Artwork

'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent

'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent, by Wilfrid R. Addey, watercolor, 1944
'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent, by Wilfrid R. Addey, watercolor, 1944

'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent is a watercolor work on paper by the Art Brut artist Wilfrid R. Addey. It dates from 1944 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour, created by Wilfrid R.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour, created by Wilfrid R. Addey in the late 1940s, depicts a pin-up girl reimagined as Eve from the biblical story of temptation. The artwork combines the sensuality of a calendar girl with the narrative of the Fall of Man.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, a nude pin-up girl styled as Eve, kneels in a suggestive pose, reaching for an apple while entwined by a serpent. This blend of religious allegory and eroticism reflects the dual appeal of innocence and seduction prevalent in post-war popular culture.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the piece showcases Addey's skill in capturing detailed, voluptuous figures characteristic of 1940s pin-up art. The model's features, thin eyebrows, long eyelashes, and a willowy physique, are quintessentially of its time.

History & Provenance

Wilfrid R. Addey, a prolific commercial artist, created this work amidst his long career with prominent London advertising firms. It exemplifies the flourishing advertising industry of the late 1940s and 1950s, catering to the post-war consumer boom.

Context

Emerging in the post-war era, this artwork taps into the period's consumerist and sensual awakening. It reflects the intersection of religious themes with the burgeoning sexuality in advertising and popular media of the time.

Legacy

While not widely recognized outside the context of vintage advertising art, this piece contributes to the historical record of post-war commercial illustration, highlighting the evolution of feminine ideals and the use of mythological themes in popular culture.

'Pin-up' wearing a loin cloth and jewellery
'Pin-up' wearing a loin cloth and jewellery, Wilfrid R. Addey

Artist & collection

Artist

Wilfrid R. Addey

Wilfrid R. Addey made spare, ink-and-watercolor snapshots of mid-century America. His sheet shows a late-1940s pin-up in a purple bikini with a lit cigarette, quick lines catching the pose and the glow of a club lamp.…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted 'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent?

'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent was painted by Wilfrid R. Addey in 1944.

Where can I see 'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent?

'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is 'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent?

'Pin-up' girl as Eve with the serpent is associated with Art Brut.