Untitled 

Jean Cocteau created this tapestry of vibrant colors and enigmatic symbolism during a time of significant artistic and social change in France. The image features a stylized human face with rainbow-colored bands and a single, prominent eye. The striking visual vocabulary is associated with Surrealism, which challenged traditional modes of representation. Cocteau, though never formally aligned with the group, engaged with some of its key ideas. You can see that in the figure's oneiric quality. To the left, the face merges with a Greek temple while the right side dissolves into an ocean landscape. This juxtaposition might reflect the artist's interest in collapsing the boundaries between past and present, and between internal and external realities. Cocteau operated within a web of patrons, publishers and collaborators, and was an influential cultural figure. His tapestries, prints and book illustrations would have been highly sought after among collectors who valued their avant-garde aesthetic. When we examine the artwork, we should delve into the cultural conditions that shaped the artist's vision, and the history of French cultural institutions that supported his innovative practice.