Untitled 1960

This untitled drawing was made by Jean Cocteau in 1960, using what looks like colored ink on paper. It’s so immediate, isn't it? Like he just let the lines flow, one after another, making a portrait emerge out of thin air. I love how the different colored lines don’t quite line up, creating a sense of depth and movement. Look at the red line that loops around the neck—it’s so playful and energetic. And then there's the eye, which is outlined in black and stares right out at you. The blue line that forms the jawline doesn't quite meet the ear. There's a real joy in seeing how the face is constructed, not defined, but felt. Cocteau reminds me a bit of Picasso, in the way he distorts and simplifies form. But there’s also something very unique to Cocteau’s style. It feels almost like a continuous line drawing, a single breath turned into an image. It invites you to fill in the gaps, to complete the picture in your own mind. Art isn't about answers, but about opening doors of perception, each one different for each viewer.