Poor Girl! - Hanes Stocking (c.1956)
Year: c.1956
Format: Print Advert
Illustrator: Vladimir Bobri (1898-1986)
Client: Hanes Stockings
Details: This c.1956 Hanes stockings magazine advert was one of a series created by Vladimir Bobri (1898-1986), also known as Bobri.
Bobri was born as Vladimir Bobritsky in Kharkiv, Ukraine (which was then part of the Russian Empire). He studied at the Kharkiv Imperial Art School and began designing sets for the Great Dramatic Theatre of Kharkiv in 1915. With the outbreak of the Russian Revolution, Bobri became caught up in the conflict and fought on various sides during the civil war before eventually escaping in 1917.
As a refugee, Bobri embarked on a period of extensive travel and diverse activities. He travelled with a handmade passport, working in various jobs such as a wine presser in Crimea and as a guitarist in a gypsy chorus. He painted icons in the Greek islands, played the piano in Pera, and designed sets and costumes for the Russian ballet in Constantinople, which eventually led to his emigration to the United States in 1921.
In New York City, Bobri initially operated his own textile printing establishment and later found work as an art director for Saks Fifth Avenue. He gained recognition for his fresh and innovative newspaper and magazine layouts, influenced by his classical training and theatrical design background. Bobri's illustrations appeared in prominent publications such as The New Yorker, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and McCall's. He worked on advertising campaigns for brands like Hanes, Koret, and Avon and also became known for his illustrations in children's books.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Bobri was passionate about the classical guitar. He co-founded the New York Society of the Classic Guitar and developed a close friendship with renowned guitarist Andrés Segovia. Bobri served as the editor and art director of The Guitar Review, a quarterly magazine published by the New York Society of the Classic Guitar.
Bobri's lifelong dedication to promoting Spanish culture through his artistic talents was recognised when he received the Cross of Isabel la Catolica with the rank of Knight-Commander in 1972.
Bobri tragically died in a fire in 1986. It destroyed the house he had designed, built and lived in with his second wife, Margaret Garcia, for nearly 50 years.