Artwork
Manteau ample gris clair
Manteau ample gris clair 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
Created around 1959, “Manteau ample gris clair” is an image by the French fashion house Carven, now part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection.
Created around 1959, “Manteau ample gris clair” is an image by the French fashion house Carven, now part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. The work presents a solitary female figure in profile, emphasizing the silhouette of a light‑gray, long coat with a turned‑down collar and a row of front buttons. The composition is restrained, focusing attention on the garment rather than narrative detail.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman with short dark hair, rendered in profile and turned toward the right. She wears white gloves, high heels, and extends her left arm forward, suggesting a poised, perhaps commercial, stance. The emphasis on the coat and accessories aligns the piece with mid‑century fashion illustration, where the garment itself becomes the primary subject.
Technique & Style
Carven employs a minimalist approach, using clean, unembellished lines and limited shading to define form. The palette is subdued, dominated by the soft gray of the coat against a neutral background, allowing the white gloves and heels to stand out. This reductionist style reflects the streamlined aesthetic of 1950s haute couture advertising.
History & Provenance
The image dates to the late 1950s, a period when Carven was renowned for its elegant, ready‑to‑wear designs. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it is displayed as an example of fashion illustration within a broader cultural context.
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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