Artwork
'Narcisse'
'Narcisse' is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1951 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. Created in 1951, *Narcisse* is a drawing by French fashion designer Marie‑Louise Carven.
About this work
For more information on the artist's style and technique, you can look up Marie-Louise Carven.
The image depicts a woman in a dress, with her arms raised and hands clasped together. The dress is light-colored with white dots and a full skirt. The woman's face is not clearly visible, but she appears to be wearing high heels.
The drawing is done in a simple yet elegant style, with clean lines and minimal shading. The overall effect is one of understated sophistication.
The image is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven, titled 'Narcisse', created in 1951. For more information on the artist's style and technique, you can look up Marie-Louise Carven.
Overview
Created in 1951, *Narcisse* is a drawing by French fashion designer Marie‑Louise Carven. The work shows a woman in a light‑colored, dotted dress with a full skirt, arms raised and hands clasped, wearing high heels. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.
Subject & Meaning
The figure appears poised in a gesture of celebration or greeting, her raised arms and clasped hands suggesting movement and confidence. The title, referencing the mythic Narcissus, may allude to themes of self‑presentation and elegance, though the image itself focuses on the garment rather than narrative detail.
Technique & Style
Carven employs clean, unembellished lines and minimal shading, giving the drawing a restrained, refined quality. The simplicity of the rendering emphasizes the silhouette and pattern of the dress—a light fabric dotted with white spots—while the overall composition conveys understated sophistication.
History & Provenance
Marie‑Louise Carven founded her eponymous fashion house in 1945 and was an early adopter of ready‑to‑wear collections in Paris. *Narcisse* reflects her focus on lightweight fabrics and designs for petite women. The drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings, where it remains on display.
Context
The early 1950s marked a shift in French fashion toward more accessible, ready‑to‑wear clothing. Carven’s work, including *Narcisse*, exemplifies this transition, balancing haute‑couture sensibility with practical, everyday wear for a broader clientele.
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
Haut blanc à manches courtes et pantalon vert à ceinture nouée
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
