Artwork
Piment
Piment 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
Piment, attributed to the French fashion house Carven and dated to around 1959, is a graphic illustration preserved in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a stylised figure of a woman dressed in a vivid red coat, rendered in flat colour and bold line work.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a solitary female figure, her hair pulled back, standing with one hand placed on her hip. The posture and attire—high‑collared, long‑sleeved coat with a straight cut, front buttons and a flared skirt—suggest a focus on contemporary women's fashion and the confidence of the post‑war era.
Technique & Style
Carven employs a minimalist approach, using clean, unmodulated lines to delineate the garment’s shape. The composition relies on flat areas of colour without shading or texture, emphasizing the silhouette and the striking red hue of the coat.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1959, the drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the institution’s visual documentation of mid‑century fashion design.
Context
The work reflects the late 1950s shift toward bold, accessible fashion, a period when Carven was known for offering ready‑to‑wear collections that combined elegance with practicality. The illustration serves as a visual record of the brand’s aesthetic priorities during that decade.
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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