Artwork
'Sao Paulo'
'Sao Paulo' is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. "Sao Paulo" is a 1949 fashion sketch from the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.
About this work
Overview
"Sao Paulo" is a 1949 fashion sketch from the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The artwork depicts a woman in a sleek, modern outfit, rendered in loose lines and shading characteristic of rapid fashion drawing techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a woman standing confidently sideways in a black ensemble consisting of a sharply lapelled jacket with decorative stitching and snug, pointed-toe shoe-length pants. Her pose and attire convey a sense of modernity and self-assurance.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, sketchy lines and nuanced shading, the piece reflects the spontaneity and immediacy of a designer's working drawing. The plain background emphasizes the figure, typical of focused fashion illustration.
History & Provenance
Created in 1949 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the House of Carven, the sketch is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection. The title "Sao Paulo" may allude to a geographical inspiration or context.
Context
Reflecting Carven's pioneering work in prêt-à-porter and her focus on petite women, "Sao Paulo" embodies the post-war shift towards more accessible, modern fashion. The use of lightweight fabric implications (suggested by the drawing's lightness) aligns with Carven's design preferences.
Legacy
As part of Carven's oeuvre, "Sao Paulo" contributes to the historical record of mid-20th-century fashion design, particularly the evolution of ready-to-wear clothing and the aesthetic of the immediate post-war period.
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
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GLAMOUR
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Béguinage
