Lifestyle Magazines
During the 1960s and 1970s as middle-class women joined the workforce and increasingly became active in the public sphere, the focus in men’s magazines drifted away from war and adventure and shifted to personal development, relationships, and sex. Articles focused on self-improvement, instructing men on how to succeed professionally as well as with the opposite sex. Magazine illustrations of this era showcased the artistic avant-garde, presenting complex information in an adventurous yet accessible way. Echoing the Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s and 60s, the artwork was unconventional and expressionistic, and celebrated individualism.
Throughout the mid-twentieth century Esquire continued to thrive and evolve, becoming a favorite among male students and young professionals. The 1960s, which was the peak of Esquire’s popularity, saw the magazine become more radical and take new risks, reflecting the changing values and interests of its readers. Artwork featured in the magazine during this period echoed this transformation, and was fittingly innovative.