Artwork
Capucine
Capucine is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1956 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1956, “Capucine” is an image produced by the fashion house Carven. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a single figure rendered in a straightforward, graphic manner, emphasizing the silhouette of a garment rather than detailed facial features or setting.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration depicts a woman dressed in a flowing, knee‑length red dress with a high neckline and short sleeves. She is accessorized with white gloves and high‑heeled shoes, suggesting a formal or evening attire. The composition functions as a visual advertisement of the dress’s style and elegance.
Technique & Style
Carven employs bold, unmodulated lines to define the figure and clothing, set against a uniform beige background. The lack of shading and the flat color treatment give the image a graphic, almost poster‑like quality, typical of mid‑century fashion illustration aimed at clear communication of design.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced by Carven, a French fashion house known for its ready‑to‑wear designs in the post‑war period. After its creation, the drawing entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains accessible for study of fashion illustration and mid‑20th‑century visual culture.
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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