Who painted Marabout?

Marabout was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1960.

Where can I see Marabout?

Marabout is held by Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

Artwork

Marabout

Marie-Louise Carven , 1960

Marabout is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1960 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Marabout is a fashion design drawing created by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the French fashion house Carven, around 1960. The piece features a simple, knee-length dress with short sleeves and two pockets, rendered in loose gray lines, accompanied by a quick back view sketch.

Subject & Meaning

The subject of Marabout is a straightforward design for a practical, everyday dress, reflecting Carven's focus on petite figures and lightweight fabrics, though the specific fabric is not visually emphasized in the sketch.

Technique & Style

The drawing showcases Carven's use of rapid, sketchy strokes to convey fabric folds and volume, set against a largely blank background with occasional smudges, indicating a preliminary or conceptual design stage.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1960 by Marie-Louise Carven, the drawing is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection, labeled 'Marabout' with the number 131.

Context

Marabout sits within the broader context of Carven's pioneering work in ready-to-wear fashion and innovative undergarments, such as the patented push-up bra, though the dress itself does not directly reflect these innovations.

Legacy

As part of Carven's oeuvre, Marabout contributes to the historical record of mid-20th-century French fashion design, particularly the evolution of accessible, modern clothing for women.