Okay so there are only two days left of the ‘Dior Illustrated’ exhibition at Somerset House, so if you are around that part of London (Strand/Covent Garden way) do pop down. It’s only £6 and you get to see the work of Rene Gruau, a key fashion illustrator for the Dior House.
Now, back in World War II, Dior made dresses for the Nazi officer's wives. This for me has always tainted my view on Dior products, and I know we are many years on from this event; it’s always hard to shift an association that immoral. Put this aside, the drawings of Rene Gruau are full of beauty and poise and you cannot but admire them. The exhibition mainly focuses on Dior’s famous perfume collection; there are even some vintage bottles on show too, which I wanted to take home for my dressing table!
My favourite picture was ‘Diorling’, 1963. Subtle, calm, euphoric and captures the era it was painted suitably. It was one of the first pieces in shifting Dior’s Haute Couture image to the more relaxed ready-to-wear idea. A few other stand out pieces were ‘Dior-Dior’, 1976 and a Gruau inspired painting, ‘Mademoiselle Shush’ by Erin Petson.
The only collection that didn’t match up to his other glamorous pieces were the illustrations of Eau Sauvage and Jules, the two men’s fragrances. I’ve included a pic I took from the exhibition programme, it says it caused controversy at the time it was realised, but it just looks like an A Level Art project to me?! This being said, I did leave the exhibition wanting to go home and draw. Doing an art based degree at uni, I have sorely missed the life drawing classes and the designing since graduating. So I decided to go home and illustrate my own ‘Christmas Thank You’ cards in honour of Mr Renu Gruau himself. (It’s of an eye with pink eyeshadow and false lashes!) Just need to get them printed and sent out now!
The exhibition is on till 9th Jan (this Sunday) so do pop along if you’re in the area.
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