Artwork
C'est à vivre
C'est à vivre is a drawing by Madeleine & Madeleine. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
C’est à vivre, executed in 1924, is an image attributed to the collaborative duo Madeleine & Madeleine. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as a representative example of the pair’s early twentieth‑century visual output.
Subject & Meaning
She accessorises with a wide‑brimmed hat, a red mask concealing her mouth, and a slender cane, creating a theatrical presence against an unadorned backdrop.
The composition centers on a solitary female figure cloaked in a long black coat with exaggerated, voluminous sleeves. She accessorises with a wide‑brimmed hat, a red mask concealing her mouth, and a slender cane, creating a theatrical presence against an unadorned backdrop. The inscription "C’est à vivre"—translated as "It’s to be lived"—suggests an invitation to embrace existence through stylised performance.
Technique & Style
Rendered as a drawing, the image relies on stark contrasts between the dark garment and the bright red of the mask, emphasizing the figure’s silhouette. The minimal background directs attention to the costume’s elaborate details, reflecting the artists’ penchant for playful yet refined visual language that merges fashion illustration with a hint of surrealist gesture.
History & Provenance
Created in the interwar period, the piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its production, though precise acquisition details remain undocumented. Its presence in the museum’s catalogue underscores the institution’s interest in works that intersect cultural anthropology and decorative arts, situating Madeleine & Madeleine within a broader narrative of European visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
These artists left a small but striking set of 1924 drawings and designs that mix fashion and line.
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
Continue through works from the same source collection.
![Sans le v[illisible], by Madeleine & Madeleine](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/madeleine-madeleine--sans-le-v-illisible--8212b979ada6b65a-w320.webp)
