Jean Cocteau

Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963) was an emblematic, multi-talented French artist of the 20th century, who left his mark on the world of literature, cinema and the visual arts. He made a name for himself at an early age in Parisian literary circles with the publication of his first poems. Close to the avant-garde, he collaborated with great artists such as Picasso, Satie and Stravinsky, and became a central figure in Surrealism. He explored art in all its forms, mixing drawing, theater, ballet and writing, with a unique ability to cross the boundaries between disciplines. In his drawings, he depicts his surroundings in a fluid, naïve style borrowing from cubism, mythology and religion. Elected to the Académie française in 1955, Jean Cocteau was also awarded the Légion d'honneur. His influence endures after his death in 1963, with his work regularly celebrated through retrospectives and publications. A total artist, Cocteau remains a key figure in French culture, having profoundly influenced twentieth-century art and literature.