Artwork

Blé d'or

Blé d'or, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1956
Blé d'or, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1956

Blé d'or is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1956 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Blé d'or, created circa 1956, is a fashion illustration attributed to Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house. The piece is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The illustration depicts a confident, elegantly dressed woman in a white outfit adorned with brown and black accents, set against a plain beige background. The subject's pose, with one hand on her hip and the other in front, conveys self-assurance.

Technique & Style

The artwork features a mix of brushstrokes in brown and black, overlaying a predominantly white attire, suggesting a blend of elegance and modernity characteristic of Carven's approach to fashion design.

History & Provenance

Created around 1956 by Marie-Louise Carven, a pioneering Parisian couturier known for her work with lightweight fabrics and petite women's designs, as well as for introducing one of the first prêt-à-porter lines in Paris.

Context

Blé d'or reflects the mid-20th-century shift towards accessible, high-fashion clothing embodied by Carven's prêt-à-porter line, catering to a broader audience while maintaining couture aesthetics.

Legacy

As part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection, Blé d'or serves as a historical artifact of 1950s French fashion, highlighting Carven's contribution to the evolution of prêt-à-porter and her design ethos.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Marie-Louise Carven

Artist

Marie-Louise Carven

Marie-Louise Carven (31 August 1909 – 8 June 2015), born Carmen de Tommaso, was a French fashion designer who founded the house of Carven in 1945.