Rene Gruau

Before the digital age, air brushing and Photoshop era, there exist a world where fashion images were hand drawn, coloured in and outlined before they went to press. The world that fashion houses employed illustrators to hand-draw their garments, for advertisement and catalogues. That world was where illustrators like Rene Gruau (1909-made his name and fame. Born Count Zavagli Ricciardelli delle Caminate in 1909, in Rimini Italy, he moved to Paris with his mother and started drawing in his teens to help support the family. Working with major fashion labels and subsequently in advertising and publicity, Gruau was most remembered for his illustrations for Dior (especially with The New Look). Many of his work have been exhibited in Paris Musee du Costume and The Musee de la Publicite

Gruau's work is simple but evocative

Direct, uncluttered, graphic art approach

Uses unexpected viewpoints to bring out his illustrations

Minimal details and shading but generous in form

Erotic mystery - showing only part of the face

His use of bold brushstrokes

All sourced from Google Images