Artwork
L'or et l'argent
L'or et l'argent 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
The dress is light-colored with green and gray leaves, and the woman's arms are bent at the elbows.
The painting features a woman in a dress with a floral pattern, wearing a hat and white gloves. The dress is light-colored with green and gray leaves, and the woman's arms are bent at the elbows. The background of the painting is a light beige color.
In the top-right corner of the painting, the title "L'or et l'argent" is written in black letters. The woman's face is not visible, and her body is turned slightly to the right.
The painting's style is reminiscent of fashion illustrations from the mid-20th century. To learn more about the artist's style and technique, look up the artist Carven.
Overview
Created around 1956, L’or et l’argent is an image attributed to the French fashion house Carven. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed among other mid‑century visual materials. Its title appears in black lettering at the upper right, framing a composition that blends decorative fashion drawing with a modest, muted palette.
Subject & Meaning
The picture depicts a woman dressed in a light‑toned garment patterned with stylised leaves in shades of green and gray. She wears a hat and white gloves, her elbows bent, and turns her torso slightly to the right, concealing her face. The anonymity of the figure and the emphasis on attire suggest an exploration of elegance and materiality, echoing the title’s reference to gold and silver.
Technique & Style
Rendered in a flat, graphic manner, the image recalls the aesthetic of 1950s fashion illustration, with clean lines and a limited colour range. The background is a soft beige, allowing the patterned dress and accessories to stand out without depth. The work’s simplicity and emphasis on surface decoration reflect Carven’s commercial illustration approach of the period.
History & Provenance
L’or et l’argent entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings after being acquired sometime after its creation in the mid‑1950s. Though the precise acquisition date is not recorded, the piece has remained in the museum’s collection, serving as a representative example of post‑war French fashion visual culture.
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.
