Artwork
'Djebel'
'Djebel' is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
“Djebel,” a drawing executed in 1949 by the fashion illustrator Carven, is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a single figure—a woman dressed in a loose, brown garment with wide sleeves and a cinched waist—rendered in a minimal, gestural style that suggests an early design study rather than a finished illustration.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is portrayed in a relaxed pose, emphasizing the fluidity of the garment’s cut. The loose silhouette and smooth drapery hint at a design intended for comfort and movement, while the belted waist introduces a subtle element of structure, balancing freedom with form.
Technique & Style
Carven employs confident, economical lines, using only a few strokes to suggest the face, hands, and the flow of fabric. The drawing’s simplicity conveys the texture of the material as a single, unbroken surface, and the swift execution gives the impression of a preliminary concept sketch rather than a polished final rendering.
History & Provenance
Created in the post‑war period of 1949, the piece bears the artist’s signature in the corner, confirming its authorship. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains accessible for study of mid‑century fashion illustration practices.
Context
The work reflects the broader trend of the late 1940s toward relaxed, functional clothing in European fashion, a shift from wartime austerity to a more liberated aesthetic. Carven’s focus on ease of wear and streamlined forms aligns with contemporary movements that prioritized practicality without sacrificing elegance.
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
Continue through works from the same source collection.
