"A line...is the basis of all art. With A single line we can express grandeur, nobility and sensulality; the line synthesises and concentrates knowledge." Rene Gruau Rene Gruau, born in Italy to an aristocratic Italian father and a French mother, whose maiden name he adopted, settled in Paris in 1924 to embark on a career as a fashion illustrator. The name of Rene Gruau has been synonymous with fashion since the 1940's, and he is particularly associated with the house of Dior, for which he created some of the most enduring and iconic images in the history of fashion and beauty. Primarily known for his colourful and vivacious portrayals of women, Gruau revolutionised the concept of masculinity in fashion and imagery and advertising from the 1960s to the 1980s, depicting the modern casual, confident man with humour and sex appeal - including images of partial male nudity that were considered shocking at the time. ILLUSTRATIONS: 250 Plates