Niuglo the mystery photographer for VEA Magazine from Mexico

A scarce photo of Niuglo, the obscure Mexican photographer! I was so glad to find it. I check in on Niuglo every few years to see what’s been learned, but he is still largely a mystery. The staff photographer of Pin up magazine VEA remains an unrecognized master. In a cover photograph from 1954, he places a model next to a massive antique camera. He appears to have been staff photographer for VEA magazine from 1941 to 1954. He also sold work to other places. Niuglo is likely a palindrome of his surname Olguin. He also MAY have produced and sold postcards of beautiful Mexican Women poses, possibly at tourist shops and through the mail. I wish I could confirm this. In the last few years there have been a few brief mentions of Niuglo in scholarly publications   VEA is a pretty hard magazine to find copies of these days. It ran in the 1940s and 1950s, and when you figure in acid-based paper, few are left. Do not confuse it with Vea the Puerto Rican gossip magazine, or Vea which came from Chile. VEA was a weekly pulp periodical which ran for years but was apparently often in trouble with the law, largely due to Niuglo’s spicy photos. The magazine was a mix of news, bullfighting reports, pulp fiction, novellas and more. Flipping through them makes me love Mexico. As our new leader forces a tariff on one of our allies, I love them even more. He even thinks he can steal the Gulf of Mexico simply by saying so, He is wrong. We’ve been allies for centuries. He doesn’t know how to treat allies and that is obvious.  VEA is scarce, but someone is paying attention. These are worthy of saving. Scholar Ageeth Sluis recently wrote “Projecting Pornography and Mapping Modernity in Mexico City” for the Journal of Urban History which drew upon the images in VEA. A portion of the abstract reads:  “By analyzing depictions of female nudity as conversant with urban landscapes in the banned magazine Vea, the author argues that pornography connected Mexico City to transnational ideas of the early twentieth century that held that sexually liberated women were part and parcel of cosmopolitan modernity. Vea exemplified and fueled concerns over “public women” and helps scholars understand larger debates on the gendered effects of revolution, urbanization, and transnational currents of global modernity.”  A group of original negatives of erotic images which have been attributed to Niuglo were discovered in 1996 and exhibited (in 2002) by photographer Merrick Morton at the Fototeka Gallery in Los Angeles. Attributed might be too strong a word, as it was speculation, and there were several other “house” photographers doing similar work for VEA. The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston owns two copies and one day I’ll pass mine along. In an issue of Vea, Niuglo ran an ad which ran (in Spanish) “Niuglo is asking for a capitalist partner to open a large-scale photography studio! Please write to…NIUGLO Article 123 no.22. Mexico City Serious Matter…Sure Business.” I hope it worked out. In one issue of VEA I read “…the sound of the camera penetrates the secrets of a woman’s soul…this psychological paroxysm when passion burns the female soul that shows itself like her tempted body,” In recent years, LUNA CORNEA ran a good piece and there have been a few other mentions…but Niuglo remans A phantom with a big camera. Issues of VEA magazine with Niuglo Covers collection Jim Linderman and other private collections.

The Dull Tool Dim Bulb Office 2025 Folk Art Collection

The Dull Tool Dim Bulb Office 2025 Folk Art Collection

Antique Whirligig Figure in original paint collection Jim Linderman Folk Art Carving

An antique whirligig fragment of a particularly less than beautiful man. Folk art carving, Original paint, human hair, red,white and blue. Circa 1930 - 1940 collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Builb

Young Woman's drawings in a practice notebook c. 1877 Schoolgirl Art of impressive skill

Some highlights from a practice notebook of a schoolgirl. I use “delightful” sparingly but it is appropriate here. Some are full pages, two cropped. The notes indicate the booklet is for “History Maps, Agricultural Figures and Physiology Figures…and mind you, this wasn’t even handed in. They were produced from 1876-1877 by a young woman. A prize, and humbling. Note the map is likely not included, not required and not shown in Florida any longer. Child’s workbook/notebook 1877 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Anonymous was a Woman an essential and beautiful book

First published in 1975, "Anonymous was a Woman" is one of my favorite titles and one I frequently mention. As if women didn't have enough to do during the 18th and 19th centuries, they often took the time to make it beautiful as well. Easy to find affordable (and I mean really, really cheap) on Amazon. I see used copies there for less than ten bucks. A beautiful book and the best book title for a book on Folk Art ever! Anonymous was a Woman by Mirra Bank (Author), Phyllis Rose (Preface). "In print since it was first published in 1979, this book is a glorious collection of American folk art by "ordinary" women of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Filled with beautiful four-color reproductions of samplers, quilts, paintings, and needle-pictures along with excerpts from diaries and letters, sampler verse, books, and magazines of the period, Anonymous Was a Woman celebrates the daily experiences and inner lives of women who, in acts of love and duty, created many masterpieces of American folk art."

A Folk Art Carving of a Couple "coupled" Antique Risque Motion Toy

A Folk Art Carving of a Couple "coupled" Antique Risque Motion Toy collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Folk Art Handmade Original Paint Greenhouse Sign Retro Vintage

Hand Painted Sign for Star Greenhouses Big Rapids, MI. Hand cut letters and stars, original paint. Approx. Five feet long. Circa 1950 - 1960? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #folkart. #handpainted. #sign. #Vintage.

Painted by Hand Envelope Cachet works which correspond to each city from which they originate! Unusual Art

I firmly believe everyone should have a hobby, and this gent certainly did. In every town he would stop and paint the a work to represent it.In Battle he puts two fellows going at it with guns.In Lilly one would grows. Redwing? A painting of a black bird with redwings. Farmer got a farmer, and as you can see Bigbow was given just that. He would address them to himself, drop them at the local postoffice to have their stamps cancelled…and when his trip ended he would receive them courtesy the U. S. Postal Service.

An enterprising and as far as I know unique passion. I have five envelopes from five different cities But have no idea how many he produced. I believe it costs some 60 cents to mail a letter now, to any city in the 50 states…but the nearest competitor (Fedex) charges TEN BUCKS! Every few years stupid Republicans try to “privatize” the mail…don’t let them. Mailed envelopes with hand-painted cachets from respective towns. All c. 1950. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog.

Three original drawings by Basil Merrett c. 1945 - 1950 Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog Outsider Art Art Brut Christmas

Three hand-drawn Christmas pieces by Basil Merrett drawn while confined at the mental hospital Bedlam in London c. 1950. Other “occupants” at Bedlam include Vincent Van Gogh and Louis Wain (The cat artist). Each approx. 4 x 6 Three original drawings by Basil Merrett c. 1945 - 1950 Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

Beatnik wannabee anonymous snapshot.

BEATNIKS! Well, beatnik wannabe privileged white folk with a mural, anyway. They must have recently read a Life Magazine expose on the “Beat Generation” and decided to drink too much wine, I’ve always said there was only three real beatniks…Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady and a Times Square thief and Junkie named Herbert Huncke. Look him up. “Beatnik Party” anonymous snapshot c. 1959 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Bizarre Real Photo Postcard of a group of strange paintings. RPPC

A bizarre real photo postcard seemingly depicting a life gone wrong through 4 paintings. Some allegorical tale of which I do not know.I guess folk art paintings preserved for all in simple mailing format,but this one is unmailed. #realphotopostcard #rppc. #dulltooldimbulb

Calamity Ice Bombs and the Coming Super Man. D.W. Matter Marches from Hell

The Coming World-Wide Calamity was originally published in 1943 and sold for a dime. There isn’t anything remarkable about it except the cover. One thing I’ve noticed about modern zealot evangelicals causing havoc on our school libraries, forcing away diversity progress electing a buffoon? You don’t hear them saying “Love thy neighbor” anymore. The other thing that bothers me? Whenever one of the disasters shown on this ridiculous book cover actually happens it’s God that caused it, not climate change or science or reason or denying fools in office. Sigh. The author, one D. W. “Matter” doesn’t matter at all, except for the notable prediction of 100 pound hailstones! The same drivel occurs in most of these disposable tracts. But I absolutely LOVE the cover. “The Coming World-Wide Calamity by D. W. Matter” 1943(?) not indicated. Artist not identified. collection Jim Linderman

Real Photo Postcard of Uncle Sam. Circa 1920 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Real Photo Postcard of Uncle Sam. Circa 1920 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Sewing Card Set hand stitched 1927 Schoolgirl Art

A Sewing Card Set created by 4th Grader Miss Lillian Ethel Wandel in 1927. The set was commercial (although the box indicates only an inventory number) and consisted of a dozen or so pre-punched cards to be hand sewn by the student. Although she hand-stitched the collection appropriately I believe the idea of stringing them together into what is essentially A giant flip book…or as seen here a wall hanger was her own. I have had several pieces from the same unidentified manufacturer over the years. I have duplicates of some, but this is the only set I have seen in this format. Completed sewing card set by Lillian Ethel Wandel 4th Grade dated December 14, 1927 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Soap Carving of a Prison and Prison Yard made from Ivory Soap c, 1930

Prison (and prison yard) hand-carved from a bar of Ivory Soap. Circa 1930. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #soapcarving. #ivorysoap. #prisonart. #folkart.

Captain Hadacol and the Hadacol Bounce 25 cents off token

America still runs on snake oil, but not like the good old days. Every few years, some criminal chemist discovers and markets a concoction which "health" stores and urban delis sell to the bridge and tunnel crowd. Once the FDA figures it out, it's gone. Generally related to caffeine but often far worse. Hadacol was the one which inspired lore and legend. A Southern slop with a potent mixture of B-Vitamins and alcohol from New Orleans. While the instructions were a teaspoon four times a day, it was sold by the glass in after-hours clubs and dry counties. The powerful stuff was invented and marketed by Lousiana State Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc and even sold in pharmacies. The senator was pretty good at promotions. Witness the Captain Hadacol SUPER HERO who appeared in an official comic book. He doesn’t look so good until he pulls himself to the fridge and pulls a draw. Even sullen kids with no pep could benefit from a swig. My Hadacol token here was good for 25 cents off. The drink inspired all manner of celebratory songs, mostly by rockabilly types aimed at white trash. Famously Professor Longhair had the best Hadacol song, and you can find it online.

Thanksgiving Drawing from a Scrapbook circa 1940 Collection Jim Linderman

Thanksgiving Drawing from a Scrapbook circa 1940 Collection Jim Linderman

Obsessive Portrait Drawings by Miss Daisy a Shut-in Outsider Artist

Several years ago I received a package of over 200 original drawings by an elderly woman who drew one a day for a long time. Her caretaker provided me the name "Miss Daisy" who passed away. Each depicts a 1970's era woman, the time period she was creating this work. On the reverse of each 8" x ll" drawing the artist wrote the daily weather and often a short note about her day. I've had time to appreciate the slightly obsessive effort as well as the outsider art characteristics. A memorable day the drawings arrived is shown in the above photo, and I have posted several of the works over the years since on this blog.

Bettie Boop and other drawings by Evelyn Anonymous 1935

Some things I scan just because they should be preserved. 7 Drawings by Evelyn Unknown dated 1935 include Betty Boop and some early vamps. Early drawing book by Evelyn 1935 Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Antique carved folk art “jumping man” articulated figure with original leather string

Antique carved folk art “jumping man” articulated figure with original leather string 14” tall c. 1940 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #folkart. #dancingtoy. #articulatedfigure. #dulltooldimbulb