ART EVENT/BOOK: René Gruau worked at the forefront of couture fashion for more than 60 years, creating daring and exciting advertising images for top fashion houses and publications including Dior, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Harpers Bazzar and Vogue. With a broad flowing brushstroke and blocks of seductive colour, Gruau masterfully captured the energy, elegance and spirit of couture from the 1940s right up until his death in 2004 at the age of 95. Primarily known for his colorful and vivacious portrayals of women, Gruau revolutionized the concept of masculinity in fashion imagery and advertising from the 1950s to the ’80s, depicting the modern casual, confident man with humor and sex appeal—including images of partial male nudity that were considered shocking at the time. Sylvie Nissen, the exclusive agent of Gruau’s work and co-author of Gruau: Portraits of Men (Assouline, $75) joins us this evening to remember the man and his impact on fashion history.