Beautiful girl in high heels and two piece suit sits with towel over her shoulders.

Peter Driben was an American pin-up artist, best known for his vibrant and often cheeky illustrations that were a staple of mid-20th century popular culture. Born in 1903 in Boston, Massachusetts, Driben’s work gained prominence during the 1930s and 1940s, a period often considered the golden age of pin-up art.

Peter Driben’s pin-up art is characterized by its playful and light-hearted nature. His illustrations often featured glamorous and provocatively posed women, exuding a sense of confidence and allure. Driben had a knack for capturing the beauty and charm of the female form, using bold colors and dynamic compositions. His work was notable for its detailed and realistic rendering, combined with a slightly exaggerated, cartoonish quality that added a sense of fun and fantasy.

Driben’s pin-ups were widely published in pin-up magazines such as **”Beauty Parade,” “Titter,” “Wink,” “Rogue,” and “Flirt.” He also created cover art for paperback books and calendars. His work contributed significantly to the visual culture of his time, influencing both contemporary and later artists in the genre. Driben’s pin-ups were part of a broader movement that included other famous pin-up artists like Alberto Vargas, Gil Elvgren, and George Petty. These artists collectively helped to define the aesthetic of the pin-up girl, which became an iconic symbol of mid-century American popular culture, especially during World War II when such imagery was used to boost morale among soldiers.

“Wink” magazine thrived from the 1940s to the 1950s, catering to a male audience with a taste for the suggestive. Initially known as “Beauty Parade,” it offered pin-up pictures alongside short stories with a risqué touch. Published by Robert Harrison, “Wink” upped the ante with elements of bondage in its comic strips, pushing the boundaries for the time. Though commercially successful, the magazine ultimately faded away by the late 1970s. Today, vintage “Wink” issues are sought-after collectibles, a reminder of a bygone era where pin-up culture thrived with a hint of titillation.