Cèdre was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1958.

Where can I see Cèdre?

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

Artwork

Cèdre

Marie-Louise Carven , 1958

Cèdre is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1958 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1958, *Cèdre* is a fashion illustration by French designer Marie‑Louise Carven. The drawing is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings and exemplifies Carven’s interest in streamlined, functional clothing for the modern woman.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a woman dressed in a dark, unadorned ensemble featuring wide‑legged trousers and a high collar. She holds a rolled paper or stick, suggesting a moment of preparation or design, while a secondary sketch of a suited man and a belted dress appear in the margins, hinting at gendered contrasts in contemporary attire.

Technique & Style

Carven employs swift, assured lines with selective shading, leaving the trousers and collar lightly rendered. The sketchy, cross‑hatching‑like strokes convey movement and simplicity, emphasizing the garment’s clean geometry over decorative detail.

History & Provenance

Marie‑Louise Carven founded her eponymous fashion house in 1945 and was among the first Parisian couturiers to launch a ready‑to‑wear line. *Cèdre* reflects her early embrace of practical, elegant design and entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection as a representative example of mid‑century French fashion illustration.

Context

The illustration emerges at a time when post‑war France saw a shift toward accessible fashion, with designers like Carven moving beyond haute couture to offer ready‑made garments. The drawing’s minimalist aesthetic mirrors the broader cultural move toward functional modernity in the late 1950s.