Safran was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1958.

Where can I see Safran?

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

Artwork

Safran

Marie-Louise Carven , 1958

Safran is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1958 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Safran, created around 1958 by French fashion designer Marie-Louise Carven, is a fashion sketch housed in the Museum of Ethnography. It depicts a woman wearing a long, loose coat with a distinctive speckled brown and white pattern.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is a woman dressed in a practical yet elegant coat, reflecting Carven's focus on designing for petite women. The emphasis on the coat's shape, pattern, and suggested fabric texture highlights its design elements.

Technique & Style

Executed in loose, quick pencil strokes, the sketch prioritizes capturing the garment's overall form and pattern over intricate details. This approach conveys a sense of fabric movement and texture.

History & Provenance

Created by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (established in 1945), Safran is part of a collection that showcases her contributions to Parisian couture and early adoption of ready-to-wear lines.

Context

Safran reflects the late 1950s fashion trends and Carven's innovative approach to catering to petite women, a niche she successfully targeted in her designs.

Legacy

As part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection, Safran contributes to the historical record of French fashion's evolution, particularly the development of ready-to-wear clothing by couturiers like Carven.