Artwork
Mameluk
Mameluk is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1957 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 1957 by the French fashion house Carven, this drawing is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a single figure in profile, accompanied by two elementary garment studies, and bears the handwritten label “Mameluk" in the lower corner.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman standing sideways, her left hand placed on her hip, suggesting a poised stance. Adjacent to her are two simplified costume sketches: one depicts a sleeveless bodice, the other a flowing skirt gathered at the waist, indicating a possible exploration of a coordinated outfit.
Technique & Style
Executed in a rapid, gestural manner, the drawing relies on loose lines and minimal shading, resembling a preliminary study rather than a finished illustration. The sketchy quality emphasizes form and proportion over detail, characteristic of quick fashion concept work.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings after its creation in the late 1950s, though the exact path of acquisition is not recorded. Its presence in an ethnographic context reflects the museum’s interest in documenting mid‑century fashion design alongside cultural artifacts.
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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