A century ago, we were more culturally and artistically advanced. Magazines in the 1920s shined a very bright light on art and culture. One such magazine, albeit short lived, Art Lovers’ Magazine, is but one example of a cultural and artistic publication from 100 years ago when magazines ruled the media world. Here is its story:
Chapter 1
Setting the stage:
Justifying Nudity in the Art magazines of the 1920s
© 2026 by Samir Mr. Magazine™ Husni, Ph.D.
An editorial in the September 17, 1926, Arts and Vanities magazine sums the status of art and beauty magazines that were sprouting like mushrooms amid what was once called The Roaring Twenties. Besides the hundreds of mass titles, some of which are still published today, such as The New Yorker, Reader’s Digest, TIME, and Better Homes and Gardens, there was a host of specialized magazines aimed at Art Students and Artists. However, the irony of those magazines is, with few exceptions, are also sold on the newsstands, defying the laws and regulations of the many ethics and obscenity commissions that were set by the states to insure lewd and obscene material is neither distributed on the newsstands nor sent by mail.
One of the earliest art magazines of the 1920s was the Edwin Bower Hesser’s ARTS Monthly Pictorial that was founded in 1922. E. B. Hesser was a famous photographer in Hollywood, CA. He launched the magazine with tag line of, “The Magazine of Pictures for Artists and Art Students.”
“While primarily a magazine of art for artists in every line of creative endeavor – to whom its great value is obvious –” wrote E.B. Hesser in the editorial of the May 1925 issue. He continued, “the publication of “ARTS MONTHLY PICTORIAL” is based on an appeal that is shared by everyone – the appeal of pictures.”
He was quick to add, ““ARTS MONTHLY PICTORIAL” opens to everyone, everywhere, the gates leading to beauty and art, bringing to many a joy they have never had open to them before.”
Defending Nudity
Hesser concluded his editorial by stating, “ARTS will not be guided by prudery in the selection of its subjects. But nothing will ever be published in it which could not be safely shown to young people. The nude – long recognized as inseparable from art – will of course be represented in its pages, but always in such a delicate manner that the magazine may enter any enlightened home, promoting higher ideals and a truer understanding of art.”
However, Hesser’s magazine was not the only one. There was a slew of art titles in the 1920s almost all claiming to be for artists and art students. Some of those magazines include, but not limited to,
All Arts & Photos Album
American Beauties
Art & Beauty
Art and Life
Art Classic
Art Inspirations
Art lovers’
Art Photos
Art Secrets
Art Studies
Art Studio Life
Art Visions
Artists and Models
Arts and Vanities
Arts, Fad, Modes
Fine Arts Quarterly
Modern Art & Stories
Modern Art Studies
Original Artists and Models
Paris Art
Real Art Studies
Sex Monthly
Tales of the Arts
The American Art Student and Commercial Artist
The World of Art
True Tales Of The ARTS
Almost without exception these magazines were not intended for the public, but rather for “Art Students, Art Lovers and Artists.” Some stated that they accept no subscriptions, so probably they were either sold on the newsstands or delivered by bulk to art schools and studios.
To clarify the point that the majority of these magazines were not aimed at the general public, the editors of Art and Vanities wrote, “The magazine is a strictly technical publication and aims to giver the artists the best art studies available. We know full well that for many artists, it is almost impossible to work directly from the model. This is due to the fact that models are demanding more for their time now, than heretofore, and also because the services of really good models are in demand at so many of our current Broadway productions.”
The following statement from Arts and Vanities applied to most of the art magazines that carried nudity within its pages. Art and Vanities “is not intended for general circulation. It is a text book for those who are striving to master the fundamental principles of Art.”
However, the magazine was very aware that non art students and artists are going to see the magazine, thus they wrote, “To those of the laity who glance through these pages, we must make one plea. Try to understand that this magazine is a text for artists. Perhaps you do not understand that nudity in art is as indispensable to art classes as food and drink to you. The nudity which you do not understand is fully revealed to the artist. To him, this expression of art is absolutely necessary. Without it he could do nothing.”
Art & Beauty magazine in its April 1927 issue wrote, “The studies in this magazine are photographs of paintings which appear in galleries the world over. They are pictures which any right thinking American citizen would be proud to exhibit in his home. They tend to acquaint young Americans with the fact that there is nothing mysterious or surreptitious about the nude and the sooner this is realized the sooner will there be an understanding of what is rank and what is beautiful.”
To be continued….
Mr. Magazine 