Artwork
Pois de senteur
Pois de senteur is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1953 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Pois de senteur, created circa 1953 by Carven, is a fashion sketch housed at the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts two dresses with long sleeves and full, flowing skirts.
Subject & Meaning
The sketch showcases two long-sleeved, wide-skirted dresses. One is rendered in purple with a darker blue collar, gradually fading to soft pink at the hem, while the other is a pencil sketch. The title, translating to 'scented peas', hints at potential floral or polka dot patterns, though these are only suggested through color.
Technique & Style
The piece contrasts a fully colored dress with one left in pencil, highlighting Carven's design process. The colored dress features a nuanced, ombre-effect transition from deep purple to pink, indicating attention to detail in shading and texture.
History & Provenance
Created around 1953 by French fashion house Carven, Pois de senteur is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.
Context
Emerging in the early 1950s, this design reflects the era's feminine, full-skirted silhouettes. The suggested patterns (floral or polka dots) were popular motifs in post-war French fashion, often symbolizing a return to elegance and normalcy.
Legacy
As a mid-20th-century fashion sketch, Pois de senteur provides insight into Carven's design aesthetic and the broader fashion trends of its time, preserving a moment in the evolution of French couture.
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.
