Who painted Camouflage?

Camouflage was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1959.

Where can I see Camouflage?

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

Artwork

Camouflage

Marie-Louise Carven , 1959

Camouflage is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Camouflage is a fashion design sketch created by French couturier Marie-Louise Carven around 1959. The piece depicts a woman wearing a knee-length coat with a bold, military-inspired camouflage pattern executed in greens, browns, and dark tones. Accompanying design elements include a wide-brimmed hat and simple heels.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is a woman in a casual, yet stylish, camouflage-print coat. The use of camouflage, traditionally a military pattern, suggests a playful subversion of its original purpose, implying a fashion-forward reinterpretation for civilian, possibly feminine, contexts.

Technique & Style

The sketch features quick, confident lines, indicative of a preliminary study. A smaller inset drawing of the coat’s back pocket reveals attention to detail. The overall style aligns with Carven’s known preference for lightweight, versatile designs, though here applied to a bolder, patterned piece.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1959 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (established in 1945), this work is now part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. Notably, Carven was an early adopter of prêt-à-porter among Parisian couturiers.