Artwork
'La pluie-le beau-temps'
'La pluie-le beau-temps' is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
La pluie-le beau-temps, created in 1949 by French fashion designer Marie-Louise Carven, is a quick sketch depicting a woman in a knee-length, checkered dress. Executed with confident, expressive lines and subtle shading, the work appears to be a preliminary study rather than a finished piece.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a woman caught in mid-movement, dressed in a loose, checkered knee-length dress, holding a bag and adjusting her hair. The title, translating to 'rain or good weather', may allude to the adaptability of fashion to varying conditions.
Technique & Style
The sketch features quick, confident lines and nuanced shading to convey fabric folds, characteristic of a rapid study. The overall style reflects Carven's emphasis on lightweight, versatile designs, though the medium and specific techniques (e.g., cross-hatching) are not explicitly detailed in the available information.
History & Provenance
Created in 1949 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (1945), the work is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection. Carven was a pioneer in prêt-à-porter and held a patent for the push-up bra.
Context
Within the context of post-WWII fashion, 'La pluie-le beau-temps' represents the shift towards more accessible, ready-to-wear clothing, aligning with Carven's innovative approach to fashion design for the modern woman.
Legacy
As a sketch by a pioneering figure in French fashion, 'La pluie-le beau-temps' contributes to the historical narrative of couture's evolution towards prêt-à-porter, reflecting Carven's influence on 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
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Béguinage
