diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 2dfd6f900..55f92fb9e 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ AWESOME_CFLAGS = -std=gnu99 -pipe \
 		 -Wunused -Winit-self -Wpointer-arith -Wredundant-decls \
 		 -Wmissing-prototypes -Wmissing-format-attribute -Wmissing-noreturn
 endif
-AM_CPPFLAGS = $(X_CFLAGS) $(pangocairo_CFLAGS) $(confuse_CFLAGS) $(xrandr_CFLAGS) $(xinerama_CFLAGS) $(AWESOME_CFLAGS) $(imlib2_CFLAGS)
+AM_CPPFLAGS = $(X_CFLAGS) $(pangocairo_CFLAGS) $(confuse_CFLAGS) $(xrandr_CFLAGS) $(xinerama_CFLAGS) $(AWESOME_CFLAGS) $(image_CFLAGS)
 
 bin_PROGRAMS += awesome
 awesome_SOURCES = \
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ awesome_SOURCES = \
 	ewmh.c ewmh.h
 awesome_SOURCES += $(LAYOUTS)
 awesome_SOURCES += $(WIDGETS)
-awesome_LDADD = $(X_LIBS) $(pangocairo_LIBS) $(confuse_LIBS) $(xrandr_LIBS) $(xinerama_LIBS) $(imlib2_LIBS)
+awesome_LDADD = $(X_LIBS) $(pangocairo_LIBS) $(confuse_LIBS) $(xrandr_LIBS) $(xinerama_LIBS) $(image_LIBS)
 
 bin_PROGRAMS += awesome-client
 awesome_client_SOURCES = \
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ awesome_message_SOURCES = \
 	common/xscreen.h common/xscreen.c \
 	awesome-message.c
 
-awesome_message_LDADD = $(X_LIBS) $(pangocairo_LIBS) $(confuse_LIBS) $(xinerama_LIBS) $(imlib2_LIBS)
+awesome_message_LDADD = $(X_LIBS) $(pangocairo_LIBS) $(confuse_LIBS) $(xinerama_LIBS) $(image_LIBS)
 
 bin_PROGRAMS += awesome-menu
 awesome_menu_SOURCES = \
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ awesome_menu_SOURCES = \
 	common/xutil.h common/xutil.c \
 	awesome-menu.c
 
-awesome_menu_LDADD = $(X_LIBS) $(pangocairo_LIBS) $(confuse_LIBS) $(xinerama_LIBS) $(imlib2_LIBS)
+awesome_menu_LDADD = $(X_LIBS) $(pangocairo_LIBS) $(confuse_LIBS) $(xinerama_LIBS) $(image_LIBS)
 
 if HAVE_XMLTO
 if HAVE_ASCIIDOC
diff --git a/common/draw.c b/common/draw.c
index 41244841a..c85986dd4 100644
--- a/common/draw.c
+++ b/common/draw.c
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@
  */
 
 #include <cairo-xlib.h>
+#ifdef HAVE_GTK
+#include <gtk/gtk.h>
+#include <gdk-pixbuf/gdk-pixbuf.h>
+#else
 #include <Imlib2.h>
+#endif
 
 #include <langinfo.h>
 #include <iconv.h>
@@ -608,6 +613,71 @@ void draw_image_from_argb_data(DrawCtx *ctx, int x, int y, int w, int h,
     cairo_surface_destroy(source);
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_GTK
+
+/** Draw an image (PNG format only) from a file to a draw context
+ * \param ctx Draw context to draw to
+ * \param x x coordinate
+ * \param y y coordinate
+ * \param wanted_h wanted height: if > 0, image will be resized
+ * \param filename file name to draw
+ */
+void
+draw_image(DrawCtx *ctx, int x, int y, int wanted_h, const char *filename)
+{
+
+    double ratio;
+    int w, h;
+    cairo_t *cr;
+    GdkPixbuf *pixbuf;
+    GError *error=NULL;
+
+    if(!(pixbuf = gdk_pixbuf_new_from_file(filename,&error)))
+        return warn("cannot load image %s: %s\n", filename, error->message);
+
+    w = gdk_pixbuf_get_width(pixbuf);
+    h = gdk_pixbuf_get_height(pixbuf);
+
+    cr = cairo_create(ctx->surface);
+    if(wanted_h > 0 && h > 0)
+    {
+        ratio = (double) wanted_h / (double) h;
+        cairo_scale(cr, ratio, ratio);
+        gdk_cairo_set_source_pixbuf(cr, pixbuf, x/ratio, y/ratio);
+    }
+    else
+        gdk_cairo_set_source_pixbuf(cr, pixbuf, (double) x, (double) y);
+
+    cairo_paint(cr);
+
+    gdk_pixbuf_unref(pixbuf);
+
+    cairo_destroy(cr);
+}
+
+/** get an image size
+ * \param filename file name
+ * \return area_t structure with width and height set to image size
+ */
+area_t
+draw_get_image_size(const char *filename)
+{
+    area_t size = { -1, -1, -1, -1, NULL, NULL };
+    gint width, height;
+
+    if(gdk_pixbuf_get_file_info(filename, &width, &height))
+    {
+        size.width = width;
+        size.height = height;
+    }
+    else
+        warn("cannot load image %s: %s\n", filename, "format unrecognized");
+
+    return size;
+}
+
+#else /* HAVE_GTK */
+
 static const char *
 draw_imlib_load_strerror(Imlib_Load_Error e)
 {
@@ -719,6 +789,7 @@ draw_get_image_size(const char *filename)
 
     return size;
 }
+#endif /* HAVE_GTK */
 
 /** Rotate a drawable
  * \param ctx Draw context to draw to
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2eb99f646..09d52daad 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -117,8 +117,16 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([xinerama], [xinerama],,
    [AC_MSG_ERROR([awesome requires Xinerama.])])
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([xrandr], [xrandr],,
    [AC_MSG_ERROR([awesome requires Xrandr.])])
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([imlib2], [imlib2],,
-   [AC_MSG_ERROR([awesome requires Imlib2.])])
+AC_ARG_WITH([gtk], AS_HELP_STRING([--with-gtk], [Build with gtk library (default: disabled)]))
+
+if test "x$with_gtk" == "xyes"; then
+    PKG_CHECK_MODULES([image], [gtk+-2.0 >= 2.2],,
+        [AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find gtk+-2.0 >= 2.2])])
+    AC_DEFINE([HAVE_GTK],1,[Defined to use gtk])
+else
+    PKG_CHECK_MODULES([image], [imlib2],,
+       [AC_MSG_ERROR([awesome requires Imlib2.])])
+fi
 
 # Checks for header files.
 AC_PATH_X