Artwork
Licorne
Licorne is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Licorne, attributed to the French fashion house Carven and dated to around 1959, is a single-sheet illustration preserved in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The image presents a stylized figure of a woman in a contemporary dress, rendered with swift, gestural lines that suggest a single, uninterrupted drawing session.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a woman wearing a streamlined, pink garment characterized by a deep V‑neck and a flared skirt, complemented by short, neatly arranged hair, bright red lipstick, and high‑heeled shoes. A small pocket adorns the front of the dress, and a miniature sketch of the garment’s rear view appears in the lower corner, hinting at a design study.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, rapid strokes, the drawing conveys a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. The line work is fluid, emphasizing the silhouette rather than detailed texture, while the limited color palette—primarily pink and red accents—focuses attention on the garment’s form. The artist’s signature, placed in the upper right, is rendered in a simple, handwritten script.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1959, the piece reflects Carven’s mid‑century aesthetic and its engagement with ready‑to‑wear fashion illustration. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the institution’s broader collection of fashion and cultural artifacts, offering insight into post‑war French design practices.
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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