Artwork
Bout de zam
Bout de zam is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1953 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 1953, *Bout de zam* is a fashion illustration by the French designer Carven. The drawing is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century garment representation.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a woman wearing a loose, sleeveless dress adorned with bold zigzag motifs. She is shaded by a wide‑brimmed hat and holds a small handheld fan, suggesting a leisurely, perhaps summer, setting. The handwritten title in the corner adds a playful, informal note to the composition.
Technique & Style
Carven employs confident, swift lines to outline the dress and hat, using quick strokes that convey movement and texture. The zigzag pattern on the fabric is rendered with minimal detail, serving as an efficient visual fill that emphasizes the garment’s surface without distracting from the overall silhouette.
History & Provenance
The sketch entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, though the exact acquisition date is not recorded. Its presence in an ethnographic context reflects the museum’s interest in fashion as a cultural artifact of the early 1950s.
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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