Artwork
Pamplemousse
Pamplemousse is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1956 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 1956, "Pamplemousse" is a fashion sketch by the artist known as Carven. The drawing is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It depicts a solitary female figure viewed from the back, emphasizing the form of her garment rather than facial features.
Subject & Meaning
The figure wears a simple dress with a fitted bodice, square neckline and short sleeves, while the skirt falls in gentle, layered folds. Small white dots punctuate the lower fabric, evoking the segmented appearance of a grapefruit—hence the French title "Pamplemousse," which alludes to the fruit’s shape.
Technique & Style
Carven employs loose, rapid lines that vary in darkness, creating a sense of movement and immediacy. The sketch balances light and shadow through quick strokes, allowing the garment’s volume to emerge without detailed rendering. The minimalistic approach highlights the silhouette rather than intricate texture.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the mid‑1950s, a period when fashion illustration was transitioning toward more abstract representation. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings as part of a broader acquisition of mid‑century fashion drawings, preserving a snapshot of post‑war sartorial aesthetics.
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.
