Artwork
Breitschwantz
Breitschwantz is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Breitschwantz, attributed to the artist known as Carven, dates from around 1963 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work is a drawing that presents a solitary female figure rendered in stark black lines against a plain background. The composition is concise, emphasizing silhouette and form over detail, and the title appears discreetly in a corner of the image.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman dressed in a simple black ensemble, complete with a small hat and a dress cinched at the waist by a bow. Her pose is straightforward, and the limited palette directs attention to her posture and the interplay of light and shadow on her face and hands, suggesting a study of presence rather than narrative.
Technique & Style
Carven employs bold, dark contours that define the figure with immediacy, while subtle shading provides a modest sense of volume. The drawing’s swift execution hints at a gestural approach, focusing on the essential shapes rather than intricate detailing. The overall aesthetic aligns with mid‑twentieth‑century graphic illustration, where economy of line conveys character.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1963, Breitschwantz entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains accessible to the public. The work’s provenance is limited to its attribution to Carven and its current institutional custody, with no recorded changes of ownership or exhibition history beyond the museum’s 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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