Artwork
'Platine'
'Platine' is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
‘Platine’ is a drawing attributed to the French fashion illustrator Carven, dating from around 1949. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century fashion sketching.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a woman dressed in a long, flowing garment with a wide‑leg silhouette and a cinched waist. She holds a small bag in one hand and a purse in the other, suggesting a moment of everyday elegance rather than a staged pose.
Technique & Style
Executed with swift, assured strokes, the drawing relies on minimal line work and brief shading to convey form. The loose handling of the medium gives the figure a sense of movement, characteristic of quick fashion studies intended to capture an idea rapidly.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1949, the piece bears the signature ‘Platine’ at its base, which may refer to a model’s nickname or an internal label used by Carven. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains in the fashion‑illustration segment of the collection.
Context
During the late 1940s, French couture was transitioning toward more relaxed silhouettes, a shift reflected in the drawing’s flowing dress and wide legs. Carven’s work often blended commercial fashion illustration with artistic spontaneity, positioning this sketch within the broader post‑war evolution of ready‑to‑wear design.
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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