Artwork
Harold

Harold 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
The overall style of the drawing appears to be from the mid-20th century, given the woman's fashion and the artist's technique.
This drawing, titled "Harold," depicts a woman dressed in a stylish outfit. She wears a plaid jacket and skirt, paired with orange gloves and a matching hat. Her attire is completed by a pair of high heels.
The woman's pose suggests that she is standing, with her hands clasped together in front of her. The overall style of the drawing appears to be from the mid-20th century, given the woman's fashion and the artist's technique.
To learn more about the artist behind this piece, look up Marie-Louise Carven.
Overview
Harold is a mid-20th century drawing depicting a stylishly dressed woman, created around 1956 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a woman in a coordinated plaid jacket and skirt, accessorized with orange gloves, hat, and high heels, posed standing with clasped hands, embodying Carven's design aesthetic for petite women.
Technique & Style
The drawing's style is characteristic of mid-century fashion illustration, reflecting Carven's use of lightweight fabric inspirations (implied by the plaid and accessory details) in a straightforward, representational technique.
History & Provenance
Part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection, 'Harold' represents Carven's innovative approach, including early prêt-à-porter lines and designs catering to petite women, contrasting with the ethnographic context of its current repository.
Context
Created during Carven's established period, 'Harold' sits within the post-war shift towards accessible, ready-to-wear fashion, yet its placement in an ethnography museum hints at broader cultural or historical preservation interests.
Legacy
As part of Carven's oeuvre, 'Harold' contributes to the legacy of a pioneer in accessible haute couture and early prêt-à-porter, though its individual impact within the broader art or fashion historical canon is not prominently distinguished in available information.
Artist & collection
Artist
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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