Who painted Bilboquet?

Bilboquet was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1955.

Where can I see Bilboquet?

Bilboquet is held by Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

Artwork

Bilboquet

Marie-Louise Carven , 1955

Bilboquet is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1955 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Bilboquet is a fashion drawing created by French designer Marie-Louise Carven around 1955. It features a woman in a loose, light gray coat with large pockets, accessorized with a red headband and low-heeled shoes. The piece is characterized by simple, confident lines, resembling a quick sketch.

Subject & Meaning

The subject of Bilboquet is a woman dressed in a practical yet stylish outfit, emphasizing comfort and everyday elegance. The design reflects Carven's focus on petite women and her use of lightweight fabrics.

Technique & Style

Executed in a modern, unaffiliated art style, Bilboquet showcases confident, simple lines and a limited color palette (light gray and red). The sketchy quality suggests a rapid, possibly preliminary, design sketch.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1955 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (established in 1945), Bilboquet is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Context

As a pioneering couturier in prêt-à-porter, Carven's work, including Bilboquet, represents the mid-20th-century shift towards more accessible, ready-to-wear fashion while catering to the needs of petite women.