Artwork

Les lanciers

Les lanciers, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1956
Les lanciers, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1956

Les lanciers 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

Overview

Les lanciers, created circa 1956, is a visual artwork by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house. The piece is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The artwork portrays a woman in a light blue, square-neckline dress with a full skirt, white gloves, and high heels, posed with one arm raised.

The artwork portrays a woman in a light blue, square-neckline dress with a full skirt, white gloves, and high heels, posed with one arm raised. Her face is obscured, and the background is a solid color. The image conveys elegance and sophistication, potentially alluding to formal or ceremonial contexts through its title, 'Les lanciers' (The Lancers), though the direct connection between the subject and title is not explicitly clear.

Technique & Style

While specific medium details are not provided, the artwork's visual characteristics suggest a focus on clean lines, simple backgrounds, and an emphasis on the subject's attire, reflecting Carven's background in fashion design, particularly her penchant for lightweight fabrics and petite women's clothing.

History & Provenance

Created around 1956 by Marie-Louise Carven, a pioneering couturier who introduced prêt-à-porter lines, 'Les lanciers' is housed in the Museum of Ethnography, indicating its recognized cultural or anthropological significance.

Context

The piece reflects the mid-20th-century fashion aesthetics, with Carven's influence on petite women's fashion evident in the design depicted. However, its placement in an ethnography museum suggests an interpretation beyond mere fashion, possibly touching on cultural or ceremonial practices.

Legacy

'Les lanciers' stands as a representation of Carven's design philosophy within a broader cultural context. Its legacy is intertwined with Carven's pioneering role in fashion and the enduring appeal of her designs, as well as its current role as part of the Museum of Ethnography's holdings.

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.