Artwork
Inclination
Inclination is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
The dress style looks like something from the mid-20th century, with a mix of elegance and simplicity.
This drawing shows a woman in a long, flowing dress with a fitted bodice. The skirt is sheer and has a pattern of small birds or flowers scattered across it. Her hair is pulled back, and she’s wearing a simple bracelet on one wrist.
The title *Inclination* hints at a tilt or movement in her pose, even though the drawing is static. The dress style looks like something from the mid-20th century, with a mix of elegance and simplicity.
If you like this style, look up bustier to see how it connects to fashion in the 1960s.
Overview
Inclination, created in 1963 by French fashion designer Marie-Louise Carven, is a drawing depicting a woman in a long, flowing dress with a fitted bodice and sheer, patterned skirt. The piece is part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a woman with pulled-back hair and a simple bracelet, is rendered in a static pose, despite the title suggesting a sense of movement or 'inclination'. The overall design embodies Carven's signature emphasis on elegance and simplicity, tailored for petite women.
Technique & Style
The drawing showcases a mid-20th-century fashion aesthetic, characterized by a bustier-style bodice and a lightweight, sheer skirt adorned with a scattered pattern of small birds or flowers, reflecting Carven's penchant for working with lightweight fabrics.
History & Provenance
Created in 1963 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (established in 1945), *Inclination* is notable for being part of a collection that highlights Carven's pioneering work in prêt-à-porter alongside her couture designs, now housed in the Museum of Ethnography.
Context
Within the context of 1960s fashion, *Inclination* represents a balance between the emerging prêt-à-porter market, which Carven helped establish, and the ongoing influence of traditional couture principles, emphasizing both accessibility and high fashion.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of *Inclination* are not highlighted, the piece contributes to the broader legacy of Marie-Louise Carven as a trailblazer in accessible, petite-friendly haute couture and early adopter of prêt-à-porter, influencing mid-20th-century fashion trends.
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
Continue through works from the same source collection.
Robe de mariée festonnée et son voile
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Kapur
Pull-over à manches longues pourpre, bonnet assorti, pantalon et lunettes de soleil
GLAMOUR
'Renardeau'
Pull-over à manches trois quarts et à encolure V à motifs multicolores, pantalon cerise et lunettes de soleil
Béguinage
