Pierre-Laurent Brenot


Pierre-Laurent Brenot, 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 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, 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", 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, for Lanvin and Rochas brands as well as for some milliners.
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:
Title
Le Lido
La Comédie Caumartin
Bobino
Le Paradis Latin
Le Moulin Rouge
ParisLine for Line Renaud

Film posters

Around the 1950s, he was asked to design film posters, including :
TitleYear of ReleaseDirectorMain Actors-
Devil's Daughter
1946Henri DecoinPierre Fresnay
Fernand Ledoux
-
The Beach
1954Alberto LattuadaMartine Carol-
Frou-Frou1955Augusto GeninaDany Robin
Philippe Lemaire
-
The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful
1956Pierre Gaspard-HuitBrigitte Bardot-
Love Is at Stake
1957Marc AllégretAnnie Girardot
Robert Lamoureux
-
Les lavandières du Portugal1957Pierre Gaspard-HuitAnne Vernon
Jean-Claude Pascal
-
Casino de Paris1957André HunebelleCaterina Valente
Gilbert Bécaud
-
Dishonorable Discharge
1958Bernard BorderiePascale Robert
Eddie Constantine
Lino Ventura
-
Vive les vacances1958Jean-Marc ThibaultMichèle Girardon
Jacqueline Maillan
Roger Pierre
-
Venice, the Moon and You
1958Dino RissiMarisa Allasio
Nino Manfredi
-
Julie the Redhead
1958Claude BoissolPascale Petit
Daniel Gélin
-
Les misérables1958Jean-Paul Le ChanoisDanièle Delorme
Jean Gabin
Bernard Blier
-
School for Coquettes
1958Jacqueline AudryOdette Laure
Jean-Claude Brialy
Darry Cowl
-
La fille de Hambourg1958Yves AllégretDaniel Gélin
Hildegarde Kneff
-
The Female
1959Julien DuvivierBrigitte Bardot
António Vilar
-
Marie des iles1959Georges CombretBelinda Lee
Magali Noël
-
La fièvre monte à El Pao1959Luis BuñuelMaria Félix
Gérard Philipe
-
Picnic on the Grass
1959Jean RenoirCatherine Rouvel
Fernand Sardou
Paul Meurisse
Ravissante1960Robert LamoureuxSylva Koscina
Philippe Noiret
-
Lettere di una novizia
1960Alberto LattuadaPascale Petit
Jean-Paul Belmondo
-
The Opportunists (1960 film)
1960Louis DaquinMadeleine Robinson
Jean-Claude Pascal
-
The High Life
1960Julien DuvivierGiuletta Masina
Hannes Messemer
-
Les bonnes femmes1960Claude ChabrolBernadette Lafont
Stéphane Audran
-
Les années folles1960Miréa  Alexandresco
Henri Torrent
-
Napoléon II l’Aiglon1961Claude BoissolDanièle Gaubert
Georges Marchal
Jean-Pierre Cassel
-
La bellezza di Ippolita
1962Giancarlo ZagniGina Lollobridgida-
Sodom and Gomorrah (1962 film)
1962Robert AldrichAnouk Aimée
Stewart Granger
-
Darling Caroline
1968Denys De La PatellièreBernard Blier
Jean-Claude Brialy
Charles Aznavour
-

Career as an illustrator

Advertising graphics

The 1950s also saw the appearance of his first advertising posters for well-known brands, including :

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 :

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: