Artwork
Black and white
Black and white is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1951 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 1951, “Black and White” is a monochrome drawing by the French fashion illustrator Carven. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century fashion illustration. Its composition centers on a single female figure rendered in stark black lines against a white background.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays a woman dressed in a white suit patterned with black polka dots, complemented by a matching hat, earrings, white gloves, and a poised stance—right hand raised, left hand on the hip. The image functions as a study of women’s attire, emphasizing the elegance of the ensemble through the figure’s confident posture.
Technique & Style
Carven employs bold, unmodulated lines and minimal shading to define the silhouette and details of the clothing. The absence of tonal gradation creates a graphic quality, while the precise contours convey texture and form without resorting to elaborate rendering, reflecting a streamlined aesthetic typical of 1950s fashion illustration.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the early 1950s, a period when Carven was active in documenting contemporary couture. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through acquisition (or donation) sometime after its creation, where it remains catalogued as part of the institution’s visual culture collection.
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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