Enoch Bolles
Encyclopedia
Enoch Bolles was an American
painter of pin-up art. He was among the earliest and most widely circulated glamour illustrators. While known today solely as a pinup artist, Bolles was a versatile illustrator who also worked extensively in the advertising industry, creating hundreds of attractive color illustrations for products ranging from bread to cigarettes. His most widely reproduced advertising illustration is the "Windy Girl" for Zippo
lighters. This work, produced in 1937, has recently been reissued as the Vargas Windy Girl and has appeared in well over 100 variations on Zippo lighters.
, the son of Enoch Bolles, Jr., a chemist in the perfume
industry, and Catherine Keep. After his father's death, the family moved to Newark, New Jersey
, where he met and, in 1903, married Clara Kaufman. They had eight children together, eventually settling in Harrington, New Jersey.
Bolles studied at the National Academy of Design
, and his first illustrations were published in 1914 on the covers of joke books, such as Judge and Puck. He became best known for illustrating Film Fun. In 1923 he became the exclusive cover artist for Film Fun and continued in this role until the magazine folded in 1943, a victim of the Postmaster General's campaign against 'salacious' material. In addition to his 200 covers for Film Fun, Bolles painted at least 300 more for spicy pulps, including Breezy Stories, Pep and New York Nights. None of this work was signed and most of it remains unattributed. Bolles' monthly lineup of all-American beauties precisely posed in wildly imaginative costumes did much to define the future of American pin-up illustration, and remain popular today. He was also a versatile illustrator who created advertising for many products, including Sun-Maid Raisins and Zippo lighters.
Psychological problems ended Bolles professional career in 1943 and confined him to Greystone Hospital in New Jersey for most of the rest of his life, but he continued to paint commissioned portraits and for personal pleasure. He was eventually discharged from hospital in 1969, and died from heart failure at the age of 93.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter of pin-up art. He was among the earliest and most widely circulated glamour illustrators. While known today solely as a pinup artist, Bolles was a versatile illustrator who also worked extensively in the advertising industry, creating hundreds of attractive color illustrations for products ranging from bread to cigarettes. His most widely reproduced advertising illustration is the "Windy Girl" for Zippo
Zippo
A Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
lighters. This work, produced in 1937, has recently been reissued as the Vargas Windy Girl and has appeared in well over 100 variations on Zippo lighters.
Biography
He was born in Boardman, Marion County, FloridaMarion County, Florida
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....
, the son of Enoch Bolles, Jr., a chemist in the perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
industry, and Catherine Keep. After his father's death, the family moved to Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, where he met and, in 1903, married Clara Kaufman. They had eight children together, eventually settling in Harrington, New Jersey.
Bolles studied at the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, and his first illustrations were published in 1914 on the covers of joke books, such as Judge and Puck. He became best known for illustrating Film Fun. In 1923 he became the exclusive cover artist for Film Fun and continued in this role until the magazine folded in 1943, a victim of the Postmaster General's campaign against 'salacious' material. In addition to his 200 covers for Film Fun, Bolles painted at least 300 more for spicy pulps, including Breezy Stories, Pep and New York Nights. None of this work was signed and most of it remains unattributed. Bolles' monthly lineup of all-American beauties precisely posed in wildly imaginative costumes did much to define the future of American pin-up illustration, and remain popular today. He was also a versatile illustrator who created advertising for many products, including Sun-Maid Raisins and Zippo lighters.
Psychological problems ended Bolles professional career in 1943 and confined him to Greystone Hospital in New Jersey for most of the rest of his life, but he continued to paint commissioned portraits and for personal pleasure. He was eventually discharged from hospital in 1969, and died from heart failure at the age of 93.