Study of Reclining Young Blonde On the Telephone, 1961

This is an original pencil & colored pencil drawing on tracing paper which served as the basis for the final painting that appeared in the June, 1961 issue of Playboy Magazine. This particular drawing is a pose and composition that some Vargas aficionados will immediately recognize as bearing a close resemblance to the first painting Alberto produced for Esquire magazine. The image was reproduced in the October 1940 issue and was the first appearance of the "Varga Girl" in Esquire and the beginning of the phenomenon that gave birth to a cultural icon. 

Collector's Notes:
This is a preliminary drawing used to propose a new Vargas Girl for an upcoming edition of Playboy Magazine.  

For each published piece, Vargas would first sketch a preliminary design such as this one for approval. He would ship several to Playboy's main offices where Hugh Hefner and the Art Directors would review each one. Once approved, they would be returned to Vargas and he would then use them to create an entirely new painting for use in the magazine. 

Although these drawings are not typically signed - as they are working designs rather than finished pieces - they do often feature handwriting from Alberto Vargas and/or notes from Playboy's Art Directors (Art Paul or Reid Austin) regarding colors, accessories, positioning etc. Occasionally Hugh Hefner has personally initialed and dated the piece, giving his final approval for the magazine.

These drawings are magnificent artifacts from the process of publishing the legendary Vargas Girl.

Ref# (SK-505)

22" x 30" Artwork Size
Pencil & colored pencil drawing
Original artwork -