Le Premier Siècle De René Gruau (Book)

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The First Century of René Gruau (Book) by Sylvie Nissen, Vincent Leret. Foreword by John Galliano. Like new except for the slightly damaged front cover – 303 pages with 400 color illustrations. 2009. Thalia editions. French language.

On the occasion of René Gruau’s centenary, the book presents a selection of his works, his posters, his advertisements, his fashion sketches.

René Gruau. From the immediate post-war period when he took his great development, until the artist’s death in 2004, his art will carry high in the world the idea of ​​a French elegance, special and sovereign. For a long time, he will be everywhere, on the walls with his posters, in the press with his fashion drawings, his advertisements and his many covers, which form the subject of this book. His signature is scratched with a star, but the artist has the elegance to fade away before his work.

A virtuoso interpreter of the biggest names in fashion: Dior, Balmain, Fath. Of the most prestigious brands: Rouge Baiser, Scandale, Payot. Or of the most colorful shows: Moulin Rouge, Lido, Casino de Paris. And if his name is not on everyone’s lips, his fashion sketches, his posters, his advertisements have, one day or another, “caught our eye” without knowing it, perhaps even without wanting to, because Gruau has elevated suggestion to the rank of Fine Arts, creating images that we could, today, call “subliminal”.

Yes, Gruau the magician plays on the palette of our five senses and our fantasies with formidable mastery. Obscure objects of desire or inaccessible stars, Gruau’s women have not finished making us dream!