Agnès was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1955.

Where can I see Agnès?

Agnès is held by Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

Artwork

Agnès

Marie-Louise Carven , 1955

Agnès is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1955 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Agnès, created circa 1955, is a fashion illustration attributed to Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house. The work depicts a woman in a distinctive red dress against a neutral background.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, a woman with a confident and poised demeanor, is dressed in a red, high-neckline, short-sleeved dress with a flared skirt. Her attire and stance convey a sense of purpose, potentially reflecting the empowerment through fashion that Carven's designs embodied, especially for petite women.

Technique & Style

While the medium is listed as 'IMAGE', the visual description suggests a style characteristic of mid-20th-century fashion illustrations, with clean lines, a focus on the subject, and the strategic use of color (notably the red dress) against a subdued backdrop.

History & Provenance

Created around 1955 by Marie-Louise Carven, a pioneering Parisian couturier known for introducing prêt-à-porter lines and innovative undergarments (like the patented push-up bra), Agnès is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Context

Agnès reflects the post-war shift in fashion towards more accessible, ready-to-wear clothing, as well as the emphasis on femininity and practicality that defined Carven's approach to designing for petite women.

Legacy

As part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection, Agnès contributes to the historical record of mid-20th-century fashion, highlighting Carven's influence on both haute couture and prêt-à-porter, though its display in an ethnography museum is unusual for a Western fashion piece.

Artist & collection

Artist

Marie-Louise Carven

Marie-Louise Carven (31 August 1909 – 8 June 2015), born Carmen de Tommaso, was a French fashion designer who founded the house of Carven in 1945.

Museum

Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris

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