Artwork
Fretillante
Fretillante 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
Executed in 1924 by the collaborative duo Madeleine & Madeleine, *Fretillante* is a drawing preserved in the Museum of Ethnography. The work captures a standing female figure rendered in swift, assured strokes. Its immediacy is underscored by the inclusion of a fabric sample adjacent to the figure, linking representation to material reality.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a woman poised in a moment of quiet confidence, her posture accentuated by the tailored lines of a black dress. The fabric swatch beside her suggests a connection between the depicted garment and its physical counterpart, possibly inviting reflection on the relationship between design and execution, or between image and object.
Technique & Style
The composition employs loose, energetic lines that convey movement and spontaneity. Cross-hatching is used to build depth and texture, particularly in the rendering of the dress and fabric sample. The restrained palette, dominated by black with subtle gold detailing, enhances the work’s graphic clarity while maintaining an informal, sketch-like quality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1924, *Fretillante* bears the studio address of Madeleine & Madeleine in Paris, indicating its origin within the city’s artistic milieu of the period. The drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains part of its holdings, though further details of its early ownership and exhibition history are not documented.
Context
The work reflects the broader artistic practices of early 20th-century Paris, where collaborations between artists and designers were increasingly common. The inclusion of a fabric sample aligns with contemporaneous interests in bridging fine art and applied arts, a dialogue that characterized much of the period’s creative output.
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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