For the film actor, see George Barbier (actor)George Barbier (French: [ʒɔʁʒ baʁbje]) (1882–1932) was one of the great French illustrators of the early 20th century. Born in Nantes, France on October 16, 1882, Barbier was 29 years old when he mounted his first exhibition in 1911 and was subsequently swept to the forefront of his profession with commissions to design theatre and ballet costumes, to illustrate books, and to produce haute couture fashion illustrations.