Alberto Vargas: Works from the Max Vargas Collection

by Reid Stewart Austin

Buy new: $45.00 $17.82 Buy used: $17.80

Editorial Reviews

The storied and turbulent career of glamour artist Alberto Vargas took him from Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies in the 1920s to Hollywood in the 30s to Esquire magazine and the emergence of the "Varga Girl" in the 40s and, ultimately, to a lasting home at Playboy in the 60s and 70s.

This is the first book on the works of Vargas in more than a decade. It is also the first to include a generous selection of his vivid original drawings and his finest work for Playboy magazine. Along with these highly sought-after pictures, the book features early unpublished works, unpublished sketches, the celebrated Legacy Nudes, and more.

The decade-by-decade narrative essay and captions are by Reid Stewart Austin, an art director at Playboy for 20 years, and author of the bestselling Vargas biography written in 1978 in collaboration with the artist.

Customer Reviews

Alberto Vargas more in text than artwork, 2008-12-09
by J. Murphy (Athens, GA)

When I buy a book of an artist work I'm buying it for his artwork not his biography. Sure some background info is a good thing but I would have rather seen more of his work. If I want his biography I'll go buy it but I'm more interested in the pin-up art. The works that are represented are nice but far from definitive of his decades of art. If I had to do it all over again I'd buy the book but for 10 dollars cheaper, because I wanted art not text... and so 3 stars

Alberto Vargas Pin Up Collections , 2008-05-05
by M. Hielscher (Los Angeles, CA USA)

Great pictures from his best work!
If you are a fan of Pin Ups, this is the Classic!!!!
Foreword by Hugh Heffner who published a lot of Vargas Work in his Magazin.
Worth every penny!

Vargas The Icon, 2008-04-08
by Manny Rodriguez

Vargas inspired many people to do pin up art, his early work of the long torso's were great, I love his work

A beautiful book, but a bit disappointing, 2008-03-31
by B. Michael Selby (New Jersey, USA)

Perhaps my expectations were too high based on the many 5 star reviews. The book is beautifully done and anyone who appreciates Vargas will be pleased with the presentation of his work. But, it seemed to me that it was a much abbreviated representation of his best work. This collection lacks most of his previously published works; these being illustrations in the estate. However, what I think the book needs the most is editing. The pictures are in chronological order, but few offer any biographical information other than the title. On a practical note, the book is very large: 10.25"X13.25" which is over sized even for a collection of illustrations.

Just breathtaking..., 2007-06-07
by A. Gochis (Glendale, CA USA)

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and reading about Alberto Vargas, his work, his relationships with his publisher(s) and his wife. The man was an amazing talent. The size of these illustrations were incredible, sorry to see a seam going down the middle ... If I could I'd take them out and hang them in poster frames!

I wish there were even more drawings to enjoy.