Artwork
Miguette
Miguette 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
This drawing depicts a woman in a black dress with white accents, holding a parasol.
This drawing depicts a woman in a black dress with white accents, holding a parasol. She has short brown hair and is wearing black heels.
The woman's dress features a pleated skirt and a top with short sleeves. The parasol is open, and she is holding it with her right hand. The background of the drawing is a light brown color.
The drawing is a portrait of a woman in the early 20th century. To learn more about the artist, look up Madeleine & Madeleine.
Overview
Miguette is a pencil drawing from 1924 by the artist duo Madeleine & Madeleine. It portrays a woman standing in a modest, everyday pose, rendered in fine linear detail against a softly washed background. The work is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography, where it is preserved as an example of early 20th-century portraiture with ethnographic interest.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, identified as Miguette, is depicted in a quiet, unadorned manner, suggesting a focus on ordinary life rather than idealized beauty. Her attire—a black dress with white trim, short sleeves, and a pleated skirt—reflects common dress of the period. The open parasol, held naturally in her right hand, implies a moment of pause, perhaps in transit or rest, reinforcing the work’s documentary tone.
Technique & Style
The drawing employs delicate pencil lines to define form and texture, with subtle tonal washes suggesting light and shadow. The background is lightly rendered in brown wash, creating a neutral field that directs attention to the figure. Details like the pleats of the skirt and the curve of the parasol are carefully observed, indicating a methodical, observational approach rather than expressive stylization.
History & Provenance
Created in 1924, the drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography shortly after its completion. Its acquisition aligns with the museum’s early 20th-century interest in recording everyday life through visual documentation. The artists, Madeleine & Madeleine, were known for their focus on domestic and regional subjects, though little public record exists of their broader careers.
Context
In the 1920s, many artists turned to intimate, non-heroic subjects as a counterpoint to wartime trauma and rapid modernization. Miguette reflects this shift, capturing a private moment with minimal embellishment. The work resonates with contemporaneous efforts in ethnographic and social documentation, where portraiture served as a record of lived experience rather than social status.
Legacy
Miguette remains a quiet example of early modern portraiture that prioritizes authenticity over spectacle. While not widely exhibited, it contributes to the Museum of Ethnography’s broader archive of everyday life in interwar Europe. Its enduring presence underscores the value placed on unassuming figures as cultural witnesses of their time.
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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