Artwork
'Duchesse d'Angoulême'
'Duchesse d'Angoulême' is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1951 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1951 by the French designer Carven, the drawing titled “Duchesse d’Angoulême” is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work is a black‑and‑white sketch that captures a female figure in motion, seen from behind, with a raised arm and a flowing garment that trails behind her.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is rendered as a woman in an elaborate dress, suggested by the high collar and expansive train. The inscription of the title in the lower corner implies an association with the historical Duchess of Angoulême, though the image does not depict specific facial features, focusing instead on the silhouette and gesture.
Technique & Style
Carven employs rapid, scribbled lines to suggest the texture of the fabric, creating a sense of immediacy. Cross‑hatching is used to build tonal variation, while the overall sketchy quality conveys movement and spontaneity, as if the drawing were executed on location rather than in a studio setting.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, though precise acquisition details are not recorded in the available sources. Its presence in an ethnographic institution reflects the museum’s broader interest in fashion and costume representation within cultural contexts.
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.
