Artwork
Capucine
Capucine 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
Capucine is a drawing created around 1953 by Carven, currently housed at the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts a woman from behind, distinguished by a bright orange, flared coat and short, dark hair.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, possibly named Capucine as indicated by the title written atop the drawing, is captured in a casual, everyday moment, adjusting her coat. The focus on a woman in modern, fashionable attire suggests a theme of contemporary female identity or a fashion study.
Technique & Style
Executed in loose, quick lines with subtle shading (notably under the coat’s collar), the sketch conveys a sense of spontaneity, characteristic of a preliminary study rather than a finished work.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1953 by Carven, a designer known for fashion sketches, Capucine is now part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection, though its journey to the museum is not detailed here.
Context
Within the context of Carven’s body of work, Capucine aligns with the designer’s practice of creating sketches that blend fashion design with portraiture, capturing the essence of mid-20th-century style.
Legacy
As part of Carven’s oeuvre, Capucine contributes to the historical record of fashion illustration in the early 1950s, offering insight into the aesthetic preferences and design practices of the time.
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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