Artwork
Degas
Degas is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1958 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1958 by the fashion house Carven, this image is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a stylized figure of a woman in an elaborate dress, accompanied by a miniature sketch of the garment’s design. The work combines portraiture with a fashion illustration, offering a glimpse into mid‑century couture presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is shown from behind, wearing a strapless, full‑skirted gown adorned with a floral motif. Her hair is arranged in an up‑do, and she lifts a rose to her nose, suggesting a moment of private contemplation or scent appreciation. The accompanying sketch on the left displays the same dress from the front, emphasizing the garment’s construction and aesthetic.
Technique & Style
Carven employs fine cross‑hatching to render the fabric’s texture and the delicate folds of the skirt, creating tonal variation without relying on broad washes. The juxtaposition of a finished figure with a technical design drawing reflects a dual interest in artistic representation and precise fashion drafting.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced circa 1958, a period when Carven was renowned for elegant, ready‑to‑wear collections. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, where it remains catalogued as part of the institution’s documentation of fashion and visual culture.
Context
Mid‑twentieth‑century fashion houses often commissioned illustrative works to showcase new designs to clients and press. This image exemplifies that practice, merging a stylized portrait with a technical plan, thereby serving both promotional and archival functions within the broader narrative of post‑war French couture.
Artist & collection
Artist
These delicate ink-on-paper drawings capture the quiet poetry of everyday things: pinecones, reeds, apples.
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
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