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Home > Artists > Rolf Armstrong

Rolf Armstrong

Born: April 21, 1889 | Died: February 22, 1960

Rolf Armstrong

Biography

Often referred to as "the father of the calendar girl," Rolf Armstrong's use of pastels and bold color choices to create lasting images of beautiful women has given him the reputation as one of the all-time great pin-up artists. 

Armstrong's first cover was for Judge magazine in 1912. Subsequently, he painted covers for such periodicals as Pictorial Review, Screenland, College Humor, Puck, Metropolitan, Photoplay, Life, and The Saturday Evening Post. In 1919, Brown & Bigelow hired Armstrong to illustrate their calendars. Calendars featuring images of his models became some of the company's highest sellers. Armstrong also illustrated product advertisments for Oneida Silverware, Hires Root Beer, Kist Beverages, Nehi Soda, and Old Gold Cigarettes.

The artist insisted on using live models for his portrait paintings, as when Boris Karloff posed in character on the set of the film Frankenstein (1931) or with his good friend James Cagney on the set of Mr. Roberts (1955). Armstrong's career flourished until his death in 1960.

Illustrations by Rolf Armstrong

Patriotic Jewel FlowersUnknownhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/patriotic-jewel-flowers
I’ll Say SoUnknownhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/ill-say-so-1
CarmenUnknownhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/carmen
Pin-Up in BlackUnknownhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/pin-up-in-black
Let’s Be FriendsUnknownhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/lets-be-friends
The EnchantressUnknownhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/the-enchantress
Cover of “Metropolitan” magazine, January 1919Public Domainhttps://www.illustrationhistory.org/illustrations/cover-of-metropolitan-magazine-january-1919

Additional Resources

  • Yesterday’s Papers
  • “The Illustrator in America, 1860-2000,” by Walt Reed

Bibliography

Dobson, Janet and Michael Wooldridge. Pin-up Dreams: The Glamour Art of Rolf Armstrong. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2001.

Stevens, Ben. Rolf Armstrong: The Dream Girls. Portland, OR: Collectors Press, 1997.

Genres
  • Advertising
    • Corporate
    • Political and Public Service
    • Product
    • Self-Promotion
  • Books
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    • Cover Art
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    • Advertising
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    • Sports
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      • Manga
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  • Fashion
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  • Internet Illustration
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  • Moving Image
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    • Video Game Design
  • Newspaper
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    • Political
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    • Travel
  • Product Illustration
    • Album/CD
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    • Greeting Cards
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    • Paper Dolls
    • Postage Stamps
  • Pulp Illustration
    • Pinup Art
    • Pulp Magazines
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Global Perspectives
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RELATED ARTISTS
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  • J.C. Leyendecker J.C. Leyendecker
  • Robert Maguire Robert Maguire
  • Norman Mingo Norman Mingo
  • Coles Phillips Coles Phillips
  • Norman Saunders Norman Saunders
  • J. Frederick Smith J. Frederick Smith
  • Gloria Stoll Karn Gloria Stoll Karn
  • Haddon Sundblom Haddon Sundblom
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Related Time Periods
  • The Decade 1920-1930 The Decade 1920-1930
  • The Decade 1930-1940 The Decade 1930-1940
  • The Decade 1940-1950 The Decade 1940-1950
  • The Decade 1950-1960 The Decade 1950-1960

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"The great band of illustrators have shown us to ourselves and I am proud to be among their company."
- Norman Rockwell

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