drib 085 Peter Driben

The composition presents a female figure suspended from a shipping container, rendered in a style characteristic of mid-20th century American illustration. The woman is positioned at an oblique angle, her legs extended and slightly splayed, drawing the viewers eye along a diagonal axis. Her expression conveys a playful, almost mischievous demeanor, with a wide smile revealing teeth. She wears a red and white patterned bikini and matching heels.
The background is largely obscured by the dark color of the container, which serves to isolate the figure and emphasize her pose. Text overlays the image; Titter, identified as “America’s Merriest Magazine,” appears in bold lettering at the top left corner, while a phrase reading Babes by the Carload is centrally placed beneath it. A price of 25 cents is visible in the upper right corner. The signature Peter Dribb is located in the lower right.
The subtext embedded within this image speaks to themes of leisure, femininity, and commercialism prevalent during the period. The woman’s pose, while seemingly carefree, also carries a sense of objectification, aligning with the pin-up aesthetic common in magazine covers of the era. Her suspension from the shipping container introduces an element of surrealism, potentially suggesting a commentary on mass production or the commodification of women within popular culture.
The title Babes by the Carload reinforces this notion, implying that such figures are readily available and easily transported – a sentiment reflective of societal attitudes towards women as objects of desire. The magazine’s self-proclaimed status as “Americas Merriest Magazine” further contextualizes the image within a framework of lighthearted entertainment, even while it perpetuates potentially problematic representations. Overall, the work functions as both an advertisement and a visual statement about gender roles and consumerism in mid-century America.