Artwork
Otawa
Otawa is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Otawa, attributed to the French fashion house Carven and dated to around 1962, is a black-and-white illustration in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work captures a stylised figure of a woman dressed in a sleek, fur‑trimmed coat and matching dress, complemented by a wide hat.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing presents a confident female figure, one hand placed in a pocket and legs set apart, suggesting poise and modernity. The attire—luxurious coat, dress, and hat—reflects mid‑century fashion trends and conveys an image of elegance combined with urban self‑assurance.
Technique & Style
Executed with rapid, gestural strokes, the image relies on bold black lines that define the silhouette while leaving portions of the paper untouched to indicate light. This loose, sketch‑like approach emphasizes movement and immediacy rather than detailed rendering.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1962, Otawa entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the institution’s visual documentation of fashion and cultural representation from the early 1960s.
Context
The early 1960s marked a period of transition in fashion, with designers like Carven exploring streamlined silhouettes and luxurious materials. Otawa reflects this moment, illustrating the brand’s focus on refined yet accessible style that resonated with contemporary urban women.
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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