Artwork
Fenimore
Fenimore 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
Created around 1956 by the French fashion house Carven, this drawing is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. It depicts a woman in business attire, rendered in a minimalist graphic style that emphasizes silhouette over detail. The work functions as a visual study of mid‑century women’s fashion rather than a narrative portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown from the neck down, dressed in a dark, striped jacket and pencil skirt, complemented by high heels and a hat. Her relaxed stance, with weight shifted onto one leg, conveys a poised, professional demeanor typical of the 1950s corporate woman, highlighting the era’s evolving role of women in the public sphere.
Technique & Style
Executed with bold, unmodulated lines, the drawing relies on stark contrast rather than shading to define form. The plain background removes contextual distraction, focusing attention on the garment’s cut and proportion. This reductive approach aligns with mid‑century modernist tendencies toward clarity and functional representation in fashion illustration.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Carven circa 1956, the piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its inclusion reflects the institution’s interest in documenting cultural expressions of dress, treating fashion illustration as an artifact of social history as well as visual art.
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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