Pierre-Laurent Brenot

Pierre-Laurent Brenot (8 July 1913 – 8 May 1998), was a French painter who also had a great activity in fashion and advertising. He is also known as the father of the "French pin-up".

Biography
Raymond (Pierre-Laurent) Brenot was born on 8 July 1913 at the 44th of rue de Vanves, in the 14th district of Paris.

In 1928, he entered the Ecole Estienne (School of the Book), which he attended for three years.

In 1932, he studied with the French designer Fernand Hertenberger. Brenot's power of observation and accuracy of pen stroke are very soon noticed.

During the "Years of Fashion" (from 1936 to 1950), thanks to his daring and his talent, he was hired by Mr. Chatard, a great dressmaker for men and women, within the store "Fashionable" based at the 16th of the Boulevard Montmartre. Brenot then created a line of men's suits. Moving forward, he made many fashion drawings for other great designers and milliners (Christian Dior, Jacques Fath, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Nina Ricci, Jeanne Lafaurie, Charles Montaigne ...), for Lanvin and Rochas brands as well as for some milliners (Maude et Mano, Legroux, Paulette).

He soon began to draw portraits, including those of Arletty, Francoise Fabian, Boris Vian and Jean-Claude Brialy.

From 1944 onwards, he started a career as a poster artist and illustrator. However, with the rise of photography in the sixties, this activity shrank badly. Pierre-Laurent Brenot then moved backward to his original painter vocation.

Pierre-Laurent Brenot died on 8 May 1998, in his estate in Loches.

Career as a poster artist
This important period took shape around different themes.

Show posters
From 1944 onwards, he produced numerous posters advertising cabaret and revue shows:

Film posters
Around the 1950s, he was asked to design film posters, including :

Advertising graphics
The 1950s also saw the appearance of his first advertising posters for well-known brands, including :
 * Chocolat Poulain ;
 * Lingerie Chantelle ;
 * Lingerie Lou ;
 * Parfum Soir de Paris de Bourjois ;
 * Lustucru ;
 * Vittel.

Fashion Illustrations
He has also been commissioned by a number of fashion magazines:


 * Bonne Soirée ;
 * Formes et Couleurs ;
 * France-Élite ;
 * Images de France ;
 * Modes et travaux ;
 * Plaire ;
 * Prestige de Paris ;
 * La Vie Heureuse ;
 * Vogue ;
 * Votre Beauté.

The creation of the French Pin-Up
During this period, he was also responsible for the design of the French pin-up in various publications such as :


 * Paris-Flirt ;
 * Paris-Hollywood ;
 * Le Rire ;
 * Stars et Vedettes ;
 * La Vie Parisienne.

Career as a painter
Pierre-Laurent Brenot has always devoted a significant part of his time to painting. He devoted himself fully to it from the 1960s onwards.

He has painted the portraits of many artists:
 * Arletty
 * Brigitte Bardot
 * Jean-Louis Barrault
 * Julien Bertheau
 * Pierre Bertin
 * Jean-Claude Brialy
 * Coccinelle
 * Denise Clair
 * Maurice Escande
 * Françoise Fabian
 * Renée Faure
 * Serge Lifar
 * Pascale Petit
 * Line Renaud
 * Madeleine Renaud
 * José de Trévi
 * Boris Vian
 * Jean Weber