Artwork
Silex
Silex is a drawing by Carven. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Silex, executed in 1963 by the French fashion house Carven, is a graphic illustration preserved in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The image presents a stylised portrait of a woman dressed in a sharply tailored suit, rendered with minimal detail and a limited palette that emphasizes the clothing over facial features or setting.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is depicted in a dark, double‑buttoned jacket with a bow at the neckline, matched by a coordinating skirt. A green hat rests snugly on her head, and the ensemble is completed by pointed shoes. The composition foregrounds contemporary women’s attire, suggesting an interest in fashion as cultural signifier rather than personal identity.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, gestural lines and flat areas of colour, the drawing conveys a sense of immediacy. The quick, sketch‑like approach reduces the subject to essential shapes, allowing the silhouette of the suit and accessories to dominate the visual field. This economy of detail aligns with mid‑century graphic illustration trends.
History & Provenance
Created during Carven’s prolific period in the early 1960s, Sileq entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings as part of a broader acquisition of fashion‑related visual material. The museum’s catalogue lists the work under its original title, confirming its provenance and continued relevance to studies of dress and visual culture.
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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