Artwork
Bas-relief
Bas-relief is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1959 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 1959 by the artist known as Carven, this bas‑relief drawing is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Though titled with a term usually applied to shallow sculptural carving, the piece is a two‑dimensional sketch that functions as a study rather than a finished work.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a woman wearing a simple, sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice and a flared skirt. The neckline is strapless, and the artist rendered a few loose brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the fabric near the hem. A small, flat drawing of the dress’s back accompanies the front view, indicating how the garment would appear without the skirt.
Technique & Style
The drawing is executed with quick, gestural lines that convey the overall shape and drape of the clothing rather than detailed rendering. The hand‑written label in the corner marks the work as “Bas‑relief,” hinting at the artist’s informal approach. The sketch’s loose hatching and minimal shading align with a rapid study method, emphasizing form over surface finish.
History & Provenance
Carven’s bas‑relief was produced in the late 1950s and later entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains catalogued. No further exhibition history or ownership changes are recorded in the available documentation.
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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