Rene Robert Bouche

Fascinated by the human image Rene Bouche was painting portraits in Europe as early as 1933. In Paris a few years later Bouche received an offer from "VOGUE" Magazine that proved to be a turning point in his career. In 1941 Bouche moved to New York where his illustrations appeared in "VOGUE" until his death. Bouche was considered to be one of the top 5 fashion illustrators in the world from the 1940's until his death in 63'. He was a friend to all of them, including Eric, Marcel Vertes, Cecil Beaton, and Eduardo Benito. He continued to paint, going through many phases. Returning to portraiture in the early 1950's, he achieved momentous success. Among his significant portraits are those of Braque, Stravinsky, Jacqueline Kennedy (1961) and Jacques Lipschitz now in the collection of the Whitney Museum, New York.