Artwork
Colimacon (sic)
Colimacon (sic) 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
Created in 1924, the work titled “Colimacon” is an image attributed to the collaborative duo known as Madeleine & Madeleine. The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and presents a single figure rendered in a stylized fashion illustration typical of the early twentieth‑century visual culture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman dressed in a long gown patterned with interlocking black and blue motifs. She stands with arms extended, her posture conveying confidence and poise, while short hair and black heels accentuate a modern, liberated femininity that aligns with the evolving social attitudes of the 1920s.
Technique & Style
Executed as a two‑dimensional image, the illustration employs flat areas of color and bold, swirling decorative elements that animate the dress. The light brown background provides a neutral field that emphasizes the figure’s silhouette and the contrast between the dark garment and the surrounding space, reflecting the graphic aesthetic of contemporary fashion plates.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the image has remained within institutional holdings, currently displayed at the Museum of Ethnography. Its attribution to Madeleine & Madeleine situates it within the broader output of the pair’s collaborative practice, offering insight into the visual language of fashion representation during the interwar period.
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
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