The Gibson GirlMost notably compared to Barbie, The Gibson Girl represented the look and feel of the perfect American woman. Developed and illustrated by artist Charles Gibson in the early 1900’s, this figure emulated all that American women aspired to be. Gibson, born in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1867 created a woman with the perfect looks and grace about her. As critic Henry Pitz wrote of Gibson in The Gibson Girl and her America, “He had a lot to reveal about the characters of his era and had more than a little to do with the shaping of it". The artist’s influence shaped an era and impacted all of society during the turn of the century. The Gibson Girl was smart and athletic but was never interested in political activities. Women during this period would simply try to look their best and be as intelligent as possible, yet rarely would any venture into the political realm. One of the first times women became involved in politics was with the introduction of feminism. The Gibson Girl, commonly joined by The Gibson Man, encompassed the entirety of feminine and masculine dress and matters. This time period in American history largely focused on moving forward and making progress within the nation’s political and independent sectors. America did not necessarily attempted to make the country more independent regarding everyday life, but many women did. The Gibson Girl “influenced a rapidly expanding middle class, busily climbing up the social ladder. Young women modeled their clothes, gestures, hair, and features on the Gibson specifications”. The image was so popular it could be seen on anything from wallpaper to umbrellas, gracing the pages of magazines and embroidered into pillows all over America. Each and every man or woman who lived during the turn of the century were able to experience and see the effects The Gibson Girl had on society.
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A typical advertisement for The Gibson Girl and The Gibson Man.
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