René Gruau

This book celebrates the genius of fashion illustrator René Gruau, whose iconic drawings shaped the image of haute couture, with a comprehensive overview of his work. The name of the legendary fashion designer René Gruau is inextricably linked to the history of Parisian haute couture. This elegantly produced picture book offers an in-depth look at his life and work, gathering numerous examples of his most beautiful, timelessly modern illustrations. At the same time, it serves as a fascinating document of the golden age of haute couture in the fashion capital of Paris. Gruau's elegant, cool, and cosmopolitan women defined the fashion image from the 1940s to the late 1960s. As a master of fashion illustration, he became world-famous, illustrating for the most significant fashion magazines and depicting the collections of fashion houses such as Dior, Givenchy, Balenciaga, and many more. For Christian Dior, he created some of the most famous images in fashion history with his virtuoso pen and brush strokes. His distinctive style also shaped numerous Dior advertising campaigns in the 1950s, exerting a tremendous influence on the development of fashion and advertising graphics. With reduced lines and few colors, he managed to make the seductive promise of a lipstick or the scent of a perfume sensually tangible. Gruau's revolutionary illustrations not only capture the designs of great fashion creators but have also become synonymous with luxury, glamour, and elegance.