Artwork
Grisbi
Grisbi is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1958 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 1958, the drawing titled “Grisbi” is attributed to the French fashion house Carven. The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century fashion illustration. The work bears the signature “Grisbi” in the lower corner, a moniker that likely references a design project or internal label within the studio.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration depicts a woman dressed in a modest black garment. The dress features short sleeves, a cinched waist, and a subtly flared skirt that falls to the calf, complemented by low‑heeled shoes. Her hair is neatly pulled back, and she stands in a relaxed pose with one hand placed on her hip, suggesting both elegance and everyday wearability.
Technique & Style
Executed in a single‑plane drawing, the image combines line work with minimal shading to convey the garment’s structure. A small inset shows a rear view of the dress, detailing how the fabric drapes and fits the body. The clean, precise lines reflect Carven’s reputation for refined, accessible fashion design during the post‑war era.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, though the exact acquisition date is not recorded in the available sources. Its presence in an ethnographic context underscores the museum’s interest in documenting clothing as cultural artifacts, positioning the piece within broader studies of mid‑20th‑century dress.
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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