Jean Cocteau (1889-1963)
Sketchbook
Circa 1926
Sketchbook... Lot 92
result :
Not available
Estimate :
Subscribers only
Jean Cocteau (1889-1963)
Sketchbook
Circa 1926
Sketchbook containing approx. 23 pages of autograph notes and approx. 15 drawings, in pencil and ink, on 31 sheets, gray cloth-backed boards, top cover with printed coat of arms of the manufacturer Canson & Montgolfier and the words 'Carnet croquis', lower corners bumped, folio
Schetsboek met circa 23 pagina's autografe aantekeningen en circa 15 tekeningen, potlood en inkt, op 31 bladen, linnen gebonden grijs bord, bovenzijde met gedrukt wapenschild van de fabrikant Canson & Montgolfier en opschrift 'Carnet croquis', onderste hoeken gestoten, folio
Sketchbook containing approximately 23 pages of autograph notes and approximately 15 drawings, pencil and ink, on 31 leaves, cloth-backed grey boards, upper cover with printed coat of arms of the manufacturer Canson & Montgolfier and words 'Carnet croquis', lower corners bumped, folio
Footnotes:
Provenance
Lucienne Watier archives; remained in his descendants
A sketchbook from one of Cocteau's most productive periods. At this time Orphée was being staged in Paris, he had an exhibition of artistic 'constructions', and Stravinsky's Oedipus rex with its Cocteau libretto would soon be premiered - all whilst he was suffering from an opium addiction
The upper cover bears Cocteau's sketch of a book cover entitled 'Opéra - travail poétique de 1925-1926', whilst the notes inside include: apparent drafts of his poem 'L'Hôtel'; notes for 'Les Voleurs d'enfants' and 'Le Paquet rouge'; prose comments on the Revolution, Robespierre and the Ancien régime; his famous quip 'Victor Hugo était un fou qui se croyait Victor Hugo'; 'Etonnante découverte de Lord Carnaval'; mentions of Oscar Wilde, Picasso, Stravinsky, Rimbaud, and other subjects. Several of the poems present here were published as part of Cocteau's collection Opéra, oeuvres poétiques 1925-1927, in 1927.
Also within the sketchbook are various drawings: a surreal neoclassical bust juxtaposed with cyclopic heads, a decapitated male nude (possibly John the Baptist with multiple Salomes), skeletons, a semi-clad figure holding an object at arm's length, several partial interiors (probably set designs), sailors alongside urinals, and two dissected figures labelled 'Les Atrides'.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR
AR An additional percentage will be charged to buyers for lots preceded by the symbol AR corresponding to artists' resale rights under the Copyright Regulations 2006. Please refer to the sales conditions for further details.
De koper is ons een extra premie verschuldigd ter dekking van onze kosten in verband met de betaling van royalty's krachtens de Artists Resale Right Regulations 2006. Zie onze algemene voorwaarden voor meer informatie.
An Additional Premium will be payable to us by the Buyer to cover our Expenses relating to payment of royalties under the Artists Resale Right Regulations 2006. See our terms and conditions for further details.
For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.