13. Fashion Illustrators
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CHARLES DANA GIBSON
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dana_Gibson
Everybody knows Gibson, he spawned a whole style of girl. Born in 1867, Gibson studied at the Art Students League as a teenager. He started contributing to ‘Life’ in 1886 and continued to do so for over 30 years. He was a prolific illustrator, his work appeared in ‘Harpers’ and ‘Colliers’ Magazine. 1890 brought the wide spread success of the new feminine ideal, The Gibson Girl. Named so after the lythe, stylish, modern, fun girls Gibson drew. In Gibson’s later years he was editor and owner of ‘Life’ Magazine. Personally I’m really taken with his fine line, no one can capture chiffon and hair like Gibson. I also enjoy the humour you can see in some of his illustrations. They are not always just life studies.
RENE GRUAU
Gruau’s influnce can be seen everywhere from comic books to current advertisements. Born in 1909 near Paris, his fashion illustration career begun in 1924. By the 40’s, Gruau’s images were synonymous with Dior, Balenciaga and Givenchy. In the 50’s he left France for the United States and worked for ‘Hapers’, ‘Vogue’ and ‘Flair’ Magazine. His simple yet beautifully brilliant compositions, elegant brush stroke and his economical but stunning use of colour, all make his images arresting and enduring.
JOE EULA
Eula was born in 1925. He served in the American military and was discharged in 1942. He first received wide spread recognition as the artist of Eugenia Sheppard’s fashion column in the ‘New York Herald Tribune’ in the 50’s. He’s done numerous album covers, concert posters, and costumes. In 1970 he became Halston’s creative director. As a fashion illustrator his art is brisk and brilliant. He had a real eye for form and expressed it simply and violently with the sparest of line. His colour was sumptuous and his contour delightful. The eye has fun traveling an Eula piece, his style carries you all over the design and the page.
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