Fan Friday – Kenneth Paul Block

by Patsyfox on October 30, 2020

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

In my fashion illustration classes I often speak to my students about the dangers of working from photographs, which allow us to drill down and agonise over details and pose. A live model will never be completely still or for long so the artist is forced to make decisions and work fast. This creates an energy in the work which elevates the drawing far above any imperfections. When I look at the work of Kenneth Paul Block, I am immediately reminded of this principle. An in-house artist for Fairchild Publications (Women’s Wear Daily, W) for almost forty years, American fashion illustrator Kenneth Paul Block helped transform the previously dowdy WWD into the bible of the jet set throughout the 1960s and 70s.

His beautiful loose and graceful lines illustrated collections by Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Coco Chanel, Givenchy, Bill Blass, Halston, amongst many others, and the line up of society women who posed for him was impressive – Gloria Vanderbilt, Babe Paley, The Duchess of Windsor, et al.

There is a beautiful book of his illustrations, “Drawing Fashion: The Art of Kenneth Paul Block” (published in 2008), and in the introduction Isaac Mizrahi wrote: “More than any single designer, he gave New York fashion its sophistication. Because he drew Babe Paley and Jackie Kennedy a certain way, they became what he had envisioned.”

Graduating from Parsons School of Design in 1945, he joined Fairchild Publications in the mid 1950s, where he stayed until 1992, when all the company’s artists were let go on the same day.

“Gesture to me is everything in fashion.” Indeed.

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Eight female models in fall coats from different French fashion houses Kenneth Paul Block (American, 1925–2009) March 4–11, 1991 Watercolor and charcoal on watercolor board * Gift of Kenneth Paul Block, made possible with the generous 
assistance of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf * Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston