Artwork
'Arrêt-Buffet'
'Arrêt-Buffet' 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
“Arrêt‑Buffet,” executed in 1949 by the artist known as Carven, is an ink drawing held in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition presents a brief scene of two women, each dressed in expansive, flowing garments that dominate the picture plane.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a pair of female figures wearing long, voluminous skirts characteristic of mid‑century fashion. One figure is distinguished by a bright yellow collar, the other by a yellow belt, suggesting subtle differentiation in status or role within the shared setting.
Technique & Style
Carven employs a loose, gestural line that is densely populated with fine cross‑hatching. This method creates tonal variation and depth without resorting to solid washes, allowing the shadows and folds of the dresses to emerge through intersecting strokes.
History & Provenance
Created in the post‑war period, the drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its completion, where it remains catalogued as part of the institution’s graphic arts collection.
Context
The exaggerated skirts and decorative accents reflect contemporary trends in women’s attire of the late 1940s, a time when designers emphasized dramatic silhouettes. The drawing thus offers visual documentation of fashion sensibilities alongside an exploration of line‑based representation.
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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