Search the Collection

Jean Cocteau

(1889-1963), Poet, playwright and film-director; Artist

Sitter in 11 portraits
Best known for his novel Les Enfants Terribles (1929), Cocteau was a central figure in the artistic avante-garde scene in Paris from the 1910s-40s. He counted among his friends many of the twentieth century's most significant cultural figures, including Picasso (who appeared in Cocteau's 1960 film The Testament of Orpheus), Salvador Dali, Gertrude Stein, Coco Chanel, Igor Stravinksy, Sergei Diaghilev and Edith Piaf. Amongst numerous eminent positions in his lifetime, he was an Honorary President of the Cannes Film Festival and awarded commander of the Legion of Honor.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Jean Cocteau, by Milein Cosman - NPG 7090

Jean Cocteau

by Milein Cosman
ink, circa 1959
NPG 7090

Jean Cocteau, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40060

Jean Cocteau

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1930s
NPG x40060

Jean Cocteau, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40058

Jean Cocteau

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1931
NPG x40058

Jean Cocteau, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40059

Jean Cocteau

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1938
NPG x40059

Elsa Maxwell; Jean Cocteau, by Francis Goodman - NPG x81758

Elsa Maxwell; Jean Cocteau

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, August 1948
NPG x81758

June Mnouchkine (née Hannen); Jean Cocteau, by Francis Goodman - NPG x195082

June Mnouchkine (née Hannen); Jean Cocteau

by Francis Goodman
halftone reproduction tear sheet, August 1948, published 22 September 1948
NPG x195082

Jean Cocteau, by Jane Bown - NPG x133113

Jean Cocteau

by Jane Bown
gelatin silver print, 1950
NPG x133113

Web image not currently available

June Mnouchkine (née Hannen); Jean Cocteau

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, August 1948
NPG x39428

Web image not currently available

June Mnouchkine (née Hannen); Jean Cocteau

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, August 1948
NPG x39429

Web image not currently available

June Mnouchkine (née Hannen); Jean Cocteau

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, August 1948
NPG x39430

Web image not currently available

Elsa Maxwell; Jean Cocteau

by Francis Goodman
2 1/4 inch square film negative, August 1948
NPG x81759

Place

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.