Régine was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1963.

Where can I see Régine?

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

Artwork

Régine

Marie-Louise Carven , 1963

Régine 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

Overview

Created circa 1963, *Régine* is a sketch attributed to French fashion designer Marie‑Louise Carven. Executed in ink on paper, the drawing depicts a woman in a simple black dress composed of a cropped bodice and a long, flowing skirt. The figure stands with one arm bent, hair pulled back, and the work bears the signature “Régine" in the lower corner.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents an anonymous female sitter, likely intended as a study of silhouette and movement rather than a portrait of a specific individual. The minimalist attire emphasizes the garment’s line and drape, reflecting Carven’s interest in designing elegant, wearable clothing for petite women and her focus on the relationship between form and fabric.

Technique & Style

Carven employs loose, confident strokes that outline the dress’s structure while leaving much of the surface suggestive rather than detailed. The sketchy quality, achieved through rapid ink lines, conveys a sense of immediacy and captures the fluidity of the skirt’s fall. The bold contouring underscores the contrast between the fitted bodice and the expansive skirt.

History & Provenance

The drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings on fashion and material culture. Carven, who founded her eponymous fashion house in 1945, was among the early couturiers to launch a ready‑to‑wear line and to patent a push‑up bra, situating the work within her broader design legacy.

Context

Produced during the early 1960s, *Régine* reflects a period when French fashion was expanding beyond haute couture into more accessible, everyday wear. Carven’s emphasis on lightweight fabrics such as lace and gingham, and her focus on petite proportions, align with contemporary shifts toward practicality and inclusivity in women’s clothing.