'Capa' was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1951.

Where can I see 'Capa'?

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

Artwork

'Capa'

Marie-Louise Carven , 1951

'Capa' is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1951 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1951 by French couturier Marie‑Louise Carven, *Capa* is a hand‑drawn fashion illustration that captures a woman in an elegant, flowing gown. The image, held by the Museum of Ethnography, exemplifies Carven’s focus on lightweight fabrics and designs suited to petite figures, reflecting her early adoption of ready‑to‑wear concepts within haute couture.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing portrays a confident female figure wearing a long dress with a deep V‑neck and a dramatically flared skirt. She holds a cigarette in one hand and a lit cigarette holder in the other, gestures that convey a sense of modern, liberated femininity typical of post‑war Parisian style.

Technique & Style

Carven employed rapid, sketchy lines to suggest the drape and movement of the fabric, using cross‑hatching to build texture in the patterned material. The loose, gestural approach emphasizes volume rather than precise detail, while the handwritten signature “Capa” in the corner identifies the work as a design study rather than a finished photograph.

History & Provenance

Founded in 1945, Carven’s fashion house quickly became known for introducing a prêt‑à‑porter line alongside its couture offerings. *Capa* entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection as part of its broader acquisition of mid‑century fashion documentation, preserving an example of Carven’s early design methodology.

Artist & collection

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.

Museum

Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris

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