Artwork
Fleur d'eau
Fleur d'eau is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Fleur d’eau, attributed to the French fashion house Carven, dates from around 1967 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work is a monochrome image depicting a solitary figure in profile, rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a woman seen from behind, dressed in a long coat cinched at the waist and topped with a wide‑brimmed hat. The figure’s posture and the simplicity of the setting suggest a focus on the silhouette of contemporary fashion rather than narrative content.
Technique & Style
Executed with rapid, gestural brushwork, the coat is rendered in dark, fluid strokes while the legs are suggested by light, fleeting lines. The background is left unadorned, allowing the figure to dominate the visual field. The informal, sketch‑like quality conveys the immediacy of a design study.
History & Provenance
Signed in the lower corner with the name “Carven” and the title *Fleur d’eau*, the image reflects the aesthetic of the house’s mid‑1960s collections. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, where it remains on view as an example of fashion illustration from the 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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