Artwork

Valencia

Valencia, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1964
Valencia, by Marie-Louise Carven, 1964

Valencia is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Valencia is a fashion sketch created by French designer Marie-Louise Carven around 1964. It depicts a woman in a casual, modern outfit, characterized by simplicity and a bold, green belt.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is a relaxed, petite woman in a sleeveless top, short skirt, and distinctive green belt with a shiny buckle. The outfit reflects Carven's design focus on lightweight fabrics and styles suited to petite women.

Technique & Style

Executed in loose, quick lines with minimal shading, the sketch conveys a sense of spontaneity, suggesting it may have been conceptualized rapidly. The bright green belt is the sole pop of color against a plain background.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid-1960s by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (established in 1945), Valencia is now part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.

Context

Valencia represents Carven's pioneering work in prêt-à-porter within the Parisian couture scene. The design embodies the era's shift towards more accessible, modern fashion.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Marie-Louise Carven

Artist

Marie-Louise Carven

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.