MOOD BOARD

I have always enjoyed the art of two artist. I had two of my art books out yesterday, taking a peruse and enjoying the images One was Count Renato Zavagli Ricciardelli della Caminate or professionally known as Rene' Gruau. His art as a fashion illustrator became art in itself whose sketches exaggerated portrayal of fashion design and has had a lasting effect on the fashion industry and have long been a mainstay in my blog sideboard. He was primarily known for his colorful and vivacious portrayals of woman and revolutionized the concept of masculinity in fashion imagery and advertising from the 1950's to the 80's, depicting the modern, casual, confident man, with humor, quirky touches, and sex appeal. Some of his drawing even depicted naked men which was considered racy for the times. Gruau has been associated with the world of fashion and the House of Dior, for which he created some of the most iconic images in the history of fashion. I have several framed reproductions which I had lined in the hallway of the old Casa du Borghese....and of course my other favorite is and will always be Tom of Finland or Touko Valio Laaksonen who is best known for his highly stylized masculinized homoerotic art and for his major influence on the late 20th century gay culture. I see a lot of myself in both artist's works.

Incidentally, this was also the method my swim instructor used on me during classes. 

ILLUSTRATION OF FASHION

I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. I finally had to time to relax and deck the halls at the Casa, all the while enjoying our first snow fall. But alas...it's Monday again. Lets kick this Monday off with some artwork by one of my favorite illustrators....Rene Gruau, who's art you may recognize from the decoration of my blog sidebar. I love the color and the fun vibrant feel it has and have several greeting cards of his framed in my hallway.

René Gruau  was a fashion illustrator whose exaggerated portrayal of fashion design through painting has had a lasting effect on the fashion industry. Because of Gruau's inherent skills and creativity, he contributed to a change in the entire fashion industry through the new pictures that represented the already popular designs created by designers in the industry. The benefits, including economic stimulation and enhancement of advertising are still present in the industry today via a new way of fashion illustration, fashion photography. Gruau became one of the best known and favorite artists of the haute couture world during the 1940s and 50s, and an assortment of “high-style” magazines. Gruau’s artwork is recognized and commended internationally in some of Paris and Italy's most prestigious art museums in Paris and in Italy.

Have a good Monday all! And if that didn't get you started today, I bet the Casa du Borghese dancers can....

HOLIDAY FASHION WITH RENE' GRUAU

I so need a holiday chapeau like the one above....how trendsetting would that be???

 

René Gruau  was a fashion illustrator whose exaggerated portrayal of fashion design through painting has had a lasting effect on the fashion industry. I have always enjoyed his artwork, and it seems for some reason, to put me in a good mood. Because of Gruau's inherent skills and creativity, he contributed to a change in the entire fashion industry through the new pictures that represented the already popular designs created by designers in the industry. The benefits, including economic stimulation and enhancement of advertising are still present in the industry today via a new way of fashion illustration, fashion photography. Gruau became one of the best known and favorite artists of the haute couture world during the 1940s and 50s working with Femina , Marie-Claire, L'Officiel, L'Album Du Figaro and an assortment of “high-style” magazines.Gruau’s artwork is recognized and commended internationally in some of Paris and Italy's most prestigious art museums including the Louvre in Paris.

 

 

What I really like is how simplistic these look and the vibrant colors......

 

Some of these have been my past Christmas cards to send out, and you may have noticed I also used some of his work in my sidebar for my different categories. Hmmmmmm, what to go with this year...... form.... or function?????

 

Fashionable Art by Rene Gruau

You may have noticed in my sidebar a while back I added some incredible fashion art. It is by one of my favorite graphic artist,Rene Gruau, who was one of the most important graphic designers in the second part of the 20th Century. Designing posters for the Lido and Moulin Rouge in Paris and for large Advertisers like Air France, Cinzano and Vichy mineral water. He worked closely with Dior fashions, and worked with Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Elle, and Le Figaro Madame and other journals of the time. His mother had a great influence on his interest in the World of fashion being involved in Haute Couture. His Illustrations were printed by Lidel as early as in 1924 in Italy. He worked as a clothes designer for a while in London.In 1947, Christian Dior invited Gruau to design for Dior and create Ms Dior fragrance. Gruau continued the relationship with Dior and worked with many fashion houses as well. Art nouveau and Japanese prints that influenced the impressionists also had a great influence on his body of work. Gruau continued working for Dior and many others right up until the end of his life. I have several prints of his and even ordered a stationary set which I used as Christmas cards one year. In the world of graphic art, Gruau is one of the most collectable artists of the last 50 years. Her's some of my favorites.