Tiflis was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1953.

Where can I see Tiflis?

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

Artwork

Tiflis

Marie-Louise Carven , 1953

Tiflis is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1953 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. Created around 1953, *Tifstra* is a fashion sketch attributed to French designer Marie‑Louise Carven.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1953, *Tifstra* is a fashion sketch attributed to French designer Marie‑Louise Carven. Executed in a modest palette of beige and brown, the drawing captures a woman in a loose, knee‑length dress with rolled sleeves, one hand on her hip and the other holding a slender object resembling a cane or umbrella. The title, loosely scrawled in the margin, suggests a geographical reference.

Subject & Meaning

The figure appears as a stylised representation of a modern woman, emphasizing ease of movement and understated elegance.

The figure appears as a stylised representation of a modern woman, emphasizing ease of movement and understated elegance. The casual pose and the inclusion of an accessory hint at both functionality and style, reflecting Carven’s focus on clothing suited to petite frames and lightweight fabrics. The sketch’s spontaneity conveys a sense of immediacy, typical of design studies rather than finished portraits.

Technique & Style

Rendered with swift, confident strokes, the drawing relies on simple line work and muted tones to suggest form without detailed rendering. The limited colour range and minimal shading create a flat, graphic quality, while the loose handling of the medium underscores its purpose as a preparatory fashion illustration rather than a finished artwork.

History & Provenance

Marie‑Louise Carven, who founded her eponymous fashion house in 1945 and was among the early couturiers to launch a ready‑to‑wear line, produced this sketch during the early 1950s. The piece now belongs to the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century fashion drawing and its cultural context.