Artwork
Pyramide
Pyramide 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
Created around 1959, “Pyramide” is a drawing attributed to the French fashion house Carven. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century fashion illustration. Its modest size and sketch‑like quality suggest it functioned as a preparatory study rather than a finished commercial image.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a woman wearing a plain grey dress with a flared skirt. The garment features short sleeves, a modest neckline and three small button‑like details along the front. The figure is shown in profile, one arm raised in a gestural pose, inviting the viewer to consider the silhouette and movement of the attire.
Technique & Style
A small reverse‑view sketch of the dress appears tucked in the corner, reinforcing its design‑focused purpose.
Executed in loose, confident lines, the sketch conveys the form of the dress with minimal detail. The artist employs a single‑stroke approach that captures the volume of the skirt and the posture of the model quickly, indicating a study intended for internal reference rather than public presentation. A small reverse‑view sketch of the dress appears tucked in the corner, reinforcing its design‑focused purpose.
History & Provenance
The piece dates to the late 1950s, a period when Carven was expanding its ready‑to‑wear lines. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through a donation of fashion archives, where it now serves as a document of post‑war French couture practice and the visual language used by the house’s designers.
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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