WILLFULL ELEGANCE: René Gruau's World

"Elegance is fluid, so difficult to define by nature, but it is made of will and knowledge, grace, refinement and perfection of distinction…” --René Gruau

With his fluid lines, audacious sense of color, and a masterful understanding of gestures and moods, it's easy to understand the allure of René Gruau's illustrations. The French illustrator created some of the most iconic images in fashion and cinema.

Whether designing the poster to Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita or numerous advertisements for Christian Dior, Gruau defined modern style and glamour by wielding a brush, pen and ink to create rich, thick lines across the delicate surfaces. Even photographers couldn’t compete against Gruau’s appeal at the time. “No snap ever caught the environment of glamour as did his brush,” Veronica Horwell at The Guardian wrote in his 2004 obituary.

With images this evocative, you won't want to miss out on works by the master illustrator this month.

"René Gruau: Master of Fashion Illustration" runs from September 24 - October 8, 2013.

(Article by Christine Villanueva; Image courtesy of Christie's)