‘The Doctor’s Holding me – for Observation’ 

Zoe Mozert’s painting, ‘The Doctor’s Holding me – for Observation’ presents a semi-nude woman playfully draped in a doctor's coat. Though undated, this work clearly belongs to the mid-20th century, a time when pin-up art enjoyed immense popularity in the United States. The pin-up emerged as a distinct genre, deeply intertwined with the social and cultural shifts of the era. During World War II, these images served as morale boosters for soldiers, offering a vision of idealized femininity. However, this genre raises questions about the objectification of women and the reinforcement of gender stereotypes within the male gaze. Mozert was one of the few women in the field. How might the image shift if viewed as a female gaze looking back? To fully grasp the nuances of this work, we can look at the archives of popular culture and feminist theory of the period. By examining the social and historical context, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics between art, gender, and society.