René GRUAU (1909-2004). - Lot 166

René GRUAU (1909-2004). Red lacquer vase. Monogrammed at the bottom. Height: 65 cm. René Gruau, born Renato Zavagli Ricciardelli delle Caminate on February 4, 1909 in Rimini, Italy, was an Italian illustrator known for his influential work in the fashion industry. He moved to Paris at an early age with his mother, Maria Gruau, a French aristocrat, after his parents separated when he was three. Gruau's career began as an illustrator for fashion magazines such as Femina, Marie Claire and Vogue in Paris during his teens and early twenties. He is recognized for his distinctive style, which combines influences from Japanese prints, the simplified forms of Toulouse-Lautrec and a vibrant color palette. During the Second World War, Gruau had difficulty finding work. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his passion for art and became one of the most famous and appreciated artists in the world of haute couture in the 1940s and 1950s. He collaborated with prestigious fashion magazines such as Femina, Marie Claire, L'Officiel and L'Album Du Figaro. Gruau's artistic contributions are not limited to fashion magazines. He designed the iconic Miss Dior fashion campaign in 1947 and created a poster for Federico Fellini's film "La Dolce Vita" in 1959, establishing his reputation as a graphic designer.