Relax by Rene Gruau

This 1961 Relax poster by artist Rene Gruau which reads Compagnie Maritime des Chargeurs Reunis (Company of United Shippers) is an image which presents a relaxing maritime scene. The poster, an advertisement for a cruise ship company features a woman illustrated in a typical Gruau stylization lounging on a vibrant red beach chair. She is set amongst an aqua-colored sky and serene oceanic background. The concise style of Gruau and attractiveness of the image makes the viewer wish that they were sitting on board along with the female. Chargeurs Reunis was founded in 1872 as a shipping company, initially operating between Le Havre and the River Plate. In 1883 it took over the Société Postale de l'Atlantique and started a service to West Africa. In 1894 it took over Compagnie Commerciale des Transports à Vapeur Français, giving it that company's services to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. After the Second World War, the company, headed by Francis Cyprien Fabre, reduced its fleet t