Artwork
Murat
Murat 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, the drawing titled “Murat” is attributed to the French fashion house Carven and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Executed as a quick, gestural sketch, the work records a solitary female figure in motion, rendered with minimal line work and a focus on silhouette rather than intricate detail.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a woman dressed in a plain, functional outfit—loose trousers, a short jacket, and low‑heeled shoes—advancing toward the right side of the picture plane. Her left arm hangs relaxed while the right hand extends forward, suggesting a gesture of explanation or direction, perhaps indicating the garment’s features.
Technique & Style
Carven’s hand is evident in the confident, sketch‑like strokes that prioritize overall shape over surface texture. The lines are deliberately rough, giving the image the character of a fashion illustration rather than a finished portrait. In the lower corner, a tiny, folded rendering of the same jacket appears, reinforcing the work’s design‑focused intent.
History & Provenance
The piece, signed only with the surname “Murat,” entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, though exact acquisition details remain undocumented. Its presence in an ethnographic context highlights the institution’s interest in the cultural dimensions of mid‑century fashion and the visual language used to convey it.
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.
