Artwork
Citronelle
Citronelle 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
Citronelle, attributed to the fashion house Carven and dated to around 1956, is a drawing preserved in the Museum of Ethnography. The image depicts a solitary female figure dressed in an expansive, patterned garment, rendered with fluid, assured lines that give the work a spontaneous quality.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is presented in a long, flowing dress adorned with a bright floral motif of yellow, orange, and white. Her hair is neatly pulled back, and she stands with one leg subtly bent, suggesting a poised yet relaxed stance that emphasizes the garment’s movement.
Technique & Style
The drawing is executed with loose, confident strokes that convey both the texture of the fabric and the spontaneity of the sketch. The floral pattern on the skirt appears to be suggested through quick, sketchy brushwork, creating a sense of immediacy while retaining decorative detail.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1956, the work entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Carven places it within the mid‑twentieth‑century fashion illustration tradition, reflecting the brand’s aesthetic at that time.
Context
During the 1950s, fashion houses often produced illustrative studies to showcase new designs. Citronelle exemplifies this practice, offering insight into Carven’s approach to pattern and silhouette, and illustrating how fashion illustration functioned as both a design tool and a visual record of contemporary style.
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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