JEAN COCTEAU 1889-1963
Maison Lafitte1889-1963 Paris (French)
Title: The Afternoon of a Faune, 1957
Technique: Original Hand Signed Pencil Drawing on paper
Size: 27 x 21 cm / 10.6 x 8.3 in
Additional information: This original drawing is hand signed by the artist with his initials "JC" at the right upper part.
It was drawn in 1957 by Cocteau as a study for the cover illustration for his unpublished brochure for Claude Debussy composition "L'apres-midi d'un Faune"(1984). Perhaps this work was intended as an accompaniment to an unrealized reintroduction of the highly scandalous, short run 1912 Ballet Russes production of “Afternoon of a Faune”, not fully reconstructed until the late 1980’s. In the drawing, we view the character (presumably modeled after the legendary ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinski’s performance as the faun) with his legs spread, echoing the ballet’s scandalous final scene, which was highly criticized by Le Figaro for its sexual nature and masturbatory gestures.
The French artist, filmmaker, poet, dramatist, playwright, and designer Jean Cocteau (1889 – 1963) was an incredibly prolific avant-garde “Renaissance Man,” integral to many highly important developments within Modernism. In addition to his beautiful drawings, which are characterized by his signature lyrical line, Cocteau produced approximately 20 theatrical plays, 11 films, 6 screenplays, 6 novels, and numerous works of poetry and criticism. Cocteau was a close associate of some of the most legendary cultural icons of the time including Édith Piaf (who starred in his play Le Bel Indifférent), princess Natalie Paley, writer Marcel Proust, poet Guillaume Apollinaire, artists Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani, ballet master Sergei Diaghilev, and musician Erik Satie. After being asked by Diaghilev to write a work for one of his ballets in 1917, Cocteau responded with “Parade”, a collaborative ballet produced by Diaghilev, and also designed by Picasso with music by Erik Satie. With his work as a writer and director of film, Cocteau is widely credited as the father of French New Wave Cinema.
Provenance:
1. This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Annie Guedras, the Cocteau expert, 8th of October 2009 and is recorded in the archives with reference number N5114E.
2. Couturier-De Nicolay, Curiosa, Autographes, Gravures, Dessins, Incunable, Almanachs Royaux, Nationaux et Impreriaux, 12th of October 1990, Paris, No. 17.
Condition: Good condition. Unexamined out of the frame.
Note: The work will be sold unframed.