The female nude in art as social criticism / Mel Ramos

Advertisement images are a common motif in Pop Art. But hardly any other representative of this art movement has used them as irritatingly as Mel Ramos. With his combinations of product advertising and pin-up girls, he had his breakthrough, but also earned criticism.

Pin-Up girls in the style of the first half of the 20th century are still very popular.  Ramos took it a step further with his “Comercial Pin-Ups”, who are usually completely naked. Erotic scenes of naked women in huge Martini glasses and idealized female bodies, as seen in the Playboy at that time, were typical for  Ramos’ motifs. This provocative sensuality is broken by strange-looking combinations, a naked woman standing in a half-open candy bar or leaning against a huge cigar. Throughout his career, Mel Ramos has challenged both the fundamentals of commercial advertising and modern ideals of beauty.