René Gruau, Cover for Sir #4, 1957. Polka dot acetate, ink and gouache on paper

He’s the fashion illustrator who defined Parisian Haute Couture in the middle of the last century – think icon sketches of Christian Dior’s ground breaking New Look of 1947 – but French genius, Rene Gruau, also turned his pen and ink on men too.

René Gruau, Cover for Sir #1, 1966. Gouache and felt tip pen on paper

Fancy taking a closer look yourself at Gruau’s super-cool menswear sketches shown here? Then pay a visit to Paul Smith, 9 Albemarle Street, London, W1, this month. The Brit designer, in association with the Fashion Illustration Gallery, is hosting ‘The Gruau Man’; an exhibition of Gruau’s menswear illustrations for Sixties men’s mag, Sir, which runs from March 21^st to April 21^st 2012.

René Gruau, Cover for Sir #3, 1967. Gouache on paper

The eye-catching works on show span a 16 year period from 1956 to 1972 and perfectly capture the snake-hipped man about town of the time in gouache, ink and felt tip pen – all with a knowing wink and a bobble hat or two.

René Gruau, Cover for Sir #2, 1971. Gouache and ink on paper

For further information, and some more choice fashion illustration gems, visit fashionillustrationgallery.com

Tags: Fashion Illustration Gallery, Men, Mens, menswear, Paul Smith, Reene Gruau, Sir

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