Artwork
Déjeuner sur l'herbe
Déjeuner sur l'herbe is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1958 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Déjeuner sur l'herbe, created circa 1958 by Carven, is a fashion sketch housed at the Museum of Ethnography. The piece primarily depicts a woman in a summery dress, with a secondary sketch of the dress's back view.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a woman wearing a simple, fitted dress with short sleeves and a belted waist, suggesting a casual, warm-weather outfit. The title implies an outdoor, leisurely context, though the figure's pose (hand on hip) conveys a sense of everyday confidence rather than a specific narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, brushy lines, the sketch has a spontaneous, doodle-like quality, indicating a quick design study. The color palette features a dark green dress base adorned with orange-brown, floral or leaf-like motifs.
History & Provenance
Created around 1958 by the fashion house Carven, the sketch is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection. Further historical context about the sketch's creation or exhibition history is not provided.
Context
While the title references Édouard Manet's famous painting, the sketch's focus is distinctly on fashion design for a summery, possibly mid-20th-century, aesthetic. The short, neat hairstyle and simple dress reflect contemporary styles of the late 1950s.
Legacy
As a design sketch from Carven, it contributes to the documentation of the fashion house's output in the late 1950s, offering insight into their approach to summer fashion during that period.
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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