Period Pieces

Period Pieces grew out of my fascination with vintage mail-order catalogs, magazines, and newspaper ads from the 1950s and ’60s. At first, I was amused by the language and imagery — the relentless focus on people’s insecurities about appearance and “being good enough.” But as I delved deeper, I began to recognize the shame I had absorbed growing up in that era. I hadn’t realized how powerfully I was being manipulated by the constant drumbeat of “looking good” – good enough to attract a cool boyfriend and ultimately, a husband.

Let’s face it, you had to be sexy. That meant no bad breath, no body odor, no pimples, not too fat or too skinny, perfect lipstick, shiny hair, and gleaming white teeth. The promise was clear: if you used the right soap, the right deodorant, the right lipstick, wore the right bra, girdle, and pantyhose, you could win the man of your dreams.

For women, success meant putting the right meal on the table when your husband came home, and looking good doing it. The message was always the same: get your man, keep your man.

Men weren’t exempt either. They were told to be virile, muscular, confident, and dandruff-free. No one wanted to be the “skinny nobody” when you could be a real “he-man.”

ChatGPT defines a “period piece” as “a work of art — such as a film, television show, novel, or play — set in a specific historical period that strives to accurately depict the customs, fashion, social norms, and events of that time.” My Period Pieces takes that definition to heart, exploring the glossy, seductive, and often humorous imagery of mid-century advertising that both reflected and reinforced the social norms of its day.

As I select images and words for these works, I often laugh at their absurdity, what now reads as pure “high camp.” My favorites are the “before and after” ads, where someone goes from miserable to radiant with a single purchase. However humorous these seem today, their message back then was clear: use this product if you want to be good enough. And it makes me wonder, how much has really changed?

I began this series in 2012, experimenting with various printmaking techniques including etching, solar plate, pronto, hand-pulled prints, and silkscreen. Each collage I create becomes the foundation for a print, whether hand-painted or etched into a solar plate. It’s an ongoing passion, and one that continues to evolve with time.

Studying the culture of advertising from that era has been both entertaining and revealing. What once felt lighthearted now appears as a mirror, one that reflects the deep insecurities and societal pressures of the time. And I can’t help but wonder: when people look back at today’s advertising sixty or seventy years from now, will they see the same patterns of manipulation and shame?