Artwork
Robe blanche à motif marron plissée sur le devant
Robe blanche à motif marron plissée sur le devant is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1957 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 1957, this image‑based work titled “Robe blanche à motif marron plissée sur le devant” records a fashion sketch by the French house Carven. The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and is presented as a visual document rather than a finished garment.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a woman wearing a modest, knee‑length dress with short sleeves. The garment’s front is gathered into vertical pleats, and the fabric features a light base overlaid with brown speckles or dots. The figure’s hair is neatly pulled back and she is positioned with one foot slightly advanced, suggesting a poised yet informal stance.
Technique & Style
Identified as a “toile,” the sketch serves as a preliminary study for a garment. Carven’s hand‑drawn lines outline the dress’s structure, while the subtle shading conveys the texture of the pleated front. The brown motif is rendered as scattered marks, giving a sense of pattern without detailed coloration.
History & Provenance
The work bears Carven’s signature in the lower corner, confirming authorship. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it is catalogued as an example of mid‑century fashion illustration and design practice.
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.
