Artwork

Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1958
Fontainebleau, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1958

Fontainebleau 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

The painting depicts a woman in a yellow dress with white polka dots, standing confidently with her left hand on her hip.

The painting depicts a woman in a yellow dress with white polka dots, standing confidently with her left hand on her hip. She wears a matching jacket and has short dark hair. To her right, a smaller figure of a woman is shown from behind, wearing a dress with thin straps. In the bottom-right corner, a simple drawing of a dress is visible.

The woman's dress appears to be pleated, and her jacket is buttoned up. The background of the painting is a light beige color, which complements the woman's outfit.

The style of the painting is reminiscent of fashion illustrations from the mid-20th century. For more information on the artist's work, look up artist Marie-Louise Carven.

Overview

Fontainebleau is a painting by Marie-Louise Carven, a French fashion designer who founded the Carven fashion house in 1945. Created around 1958, it is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a confident woman in a yellow polka-dot dress with a matching jacket, accompanied by a smaller figure of a woman in a thin-strapped dress. A simple dress drawing appears in the bottom-right corner, suggesting a connection to Carven's fashion work.

Technique & Style

The artwork's style is characteristic of mid-20th-century fashion illustrations. The woman's pleated dress and buttoned jacket are rendered in detail against a light beige background, evoking the era's fashion aesthetic.

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.