Artwork
'Arbalettes'
'Arbalettes' is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1949 by the artist known as Carven, “Arbalettes” is an image held in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a solitary female figure rendered in a sketch‑like manner, emphasizing movement and immediacy over detailed finish.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman dressed in a loose, dark‑blue garment with a wide, flowing skirt. She wears a broad‑brimmed hat tipped slightly, suggesting a casual, perhaps outdoor setting. Subtle leaf motifs near the dress pockets hint at a connection to nature or seasonal attire.
Technique & Style
Carven employs bold, gestural strokes that convey a sense of speed and spontaneity. The lines are deliberately sketchy, leaving portions of the figure loosely defined, while the hat’s shading is suggested through quick, overlapping brushmarks. This approach creates a lively, unfinished quality characteristic of mid‑century sketch work.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the late 1940s, the piece has remained within institutional holdings, currently displayed at the Museum of Ethnography. Its acquisition details are not publicly recorded, but its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s interest in mid‑20th‑century visual culture.
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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