Dieselpunk and Pin-Up Girls: A Retro-Futuristic Romance

Dieselpunk is a subgenre of science fiction that combines the aesthetics and technology of the interwar period (1918-1939) with futuristic elements. Dieselpunk is inspired by the pulp magazines, serial films, and radio dramas of the era, as well as the art deco and streamline moderne styles. Dieselpunk often features alternative history scenarios, such as a prolonged World War II, a dystopian totalitarian regime, or a post-apocalyptic wasteland. However, dieselpunk does have a lighter, brighter side, and its love affair with classic pin-ups from the era reflects this.

Pin-ups are models whose pictures are intended to be displayed in a public place, such as a magazine, calendar, or poster. Pin-up girls became popular in the 1940s, especially among soldiers, sailors and airmen who often decorated their planes, tanks, and barracks with pin-up images.

Pin-ups were often depicted wearing stylised, sexier than standard issue military uniforms, and dieselpunk frequently draws from this rich source of inspiration.

Pin-up girls represented an idealized feminine beauty, often with exaggerated curves, glamorous outfits, and playful poses. Pin-up girls in beachwear were a popular depiction.

Pin-up girls were also influenced by the Hollywood stars of the time, such as Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, and Marilyn Monroe.

The relationship between dieselpunk and pin-up girls is one of mutual attraction and influence. On one hand, dieselpunk draws from the pin-up culture of the 1940s, incorporating its elements into its retro-futuristic vision. For example, dieselpunk often features female characters who are either pilots, mechanics, spies, or adventurers, wearing leather jackets, goggles, and boots, and wielding guns, gadgets, or vehicles. These characters are usually strong, independent, and daring, but also retain a sense of femininity and sex appeal.

Some examples of dieselpunk pin-up girls are:

- Lola Zaza from the graphic novel series The Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot. Lola is a psychic agent who travels across parallel worlds to stop a fascist plot. She wears a leather coat, a beret, and a scarf, and carries a revolver.

- Lady Mechanika from the comic book series of the same name by Joe Benitez. Lady Mechanika is a cyborg detective who investigates mysteries involving mechanical and supernatural phenomena. She wears a corset, a skirt, and a hat, and has various mechanical enhancements, such as a metal arm and eye.

- Jenny Blitz from the video game series Crimson Skies by Microsoft. Jenny is a pirate pilot who leads a gang of air raiders called the Fortune Hunters. She wears a flight suit, a helmet, and a scarf, and flies a custom-built fighter plane.

On the other hand, modern, contemporary pin-up girls also benefit from the dieselpunk aesthetic, as it adds a layer of novelty, adventure, and fantasy to their images.

Dieselpunk pin-up girls often pose with props or backgrounds that evoke the dieselpunk themes, such as airplanes, tanks, robots, zeppelins, or cityscapes. Dieselpunk pin-up girls also experiment with different styles and genres, such as noir, western, horror, or steampunk.

Some examples of dieselpunk pin-up artists are:

- Gils Elvgren (1914-1980), one of the most famous pin-up artists of the 20th century. Elvgren painted hundreds of pin-up girls for various magazines, calendars, and advertisements. His style was realistic, colorful, and humorous, often featuring his models in amusing or embarrassing situations. Elvgren also painted some dieselpunk-themed pin-ups, such as a girl riding a rocket, a girl flying a plane, or a girl escaping from a robot.

- Alberto Vargas (1896-1982), another renowned pin-up artist of the 20th century. Vargas worked for Esquire Magazine, where he created the famous Varga Girls, and later for Playboy, where he created the Vargas Girls. His style was elegant, refined, and sophisticated, often featuring his models in lingerie, swimsuits, or evening gowns. Vargas also painted some dieselpunk-themed pin-ups, such as a girl in a bomber jacket, a girl in a gas mask, or a girl in a futuristic dress.

- Derek Yaniger (born 1960), a contemporary illustrator and designer who specializes in retro and vintage art. Yaniger creates posters, prints, and merchandise inspired by the 1950s and 1960s culture, such as tiki, rockabilly, beatnik, and atomic. Yaniger also creates some dieselpunk-themed pin-ups, such as a girl in a jet pack, a girl in a flying car, or a girl in a ray gun.

In conclusion, dieselpunk and pin-up girls are a perfect match, as they both celebrate the nostalgia, creativity, and glamour of the past, while also exploring the possibilities, challenges, and dangers of the future.

Dieselpunk and pin-up girls are a retro-futuristic romance that continues to fascinate and inspire fans of both genres.

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