Artwork
'Eclat'
'Eclat' 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
Created around 1949, “Eclat” is a fashion illustration by the French designer Carven, presently in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a single female figure dressed in a coordinated ensemble, rendered in a light‑toned background.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing centers on a woman’s attire: a green coat patterned in black and white, complemented by a black scarf, hat, gloves and high‑heeled shoes. By emphasizing the clothing rather than the figure, the image functions as a visual advertisement of contemporary women’s fashion.
Technique & Style
Executed with bold, unmodulated lines, the illustration relies on minimal shading to define form. The simplified, graphic approach highlights the silhouette and details of the garments, a common strategy in mid‑century fashion plates intended for clear, rapid communication.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Carven’s studio circa 1949, the piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its presence in an ethnographic context reflects the institution’s interest in clothing as cultural artifact.
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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