Artwork
Raton laveur
Raton laveur is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1967 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 1967, “Raton laveur” is an image attributed to the French designer 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 composition centers on a solitary female figure rendered against a uniform beige background.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a woman in a long, beige coat with brown detailing on the collar and shoulders, complemented by a matching hat and heels. The hat’s brim partially conceals her face, lending an air of anonymity that emphasizes the clothing rather than personal identity. The formal attire suggests a setting of social ceremony or public appearance.
Technique & Style
Carven employs a restrained palette of beige and brown tones, allowing the silhouette of the figure to dominate the visual field. The flat, unmodulated background eliminates spatial depth, focusing attention on line and form. This minimalist approach reflects the designer’s interest in elegance through simplicity, characteristic of 1960s fashion illustration.
History & Provenance
The work, dated circa 1967, entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date and remains catalogued under Carven’s oeuvre. Its presence in an ethnographic institution highlights the intersection of fashion as cultural artifact, documenting contemporary dress practices of the period.
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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