Jean Cocteau - Original Signed Drawing, A Tribute Project To Jules Verne - Hot Air Balloon 1955

Original drawing signed by Jean Cocteau (1889-1963), poster design for the CNE (National Writers' Committee) on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Jules Verne. 1955. Graphite pencil. Size: 26.8 x 20.9 cm.

Drawing listed in the Guedras archives and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Annie Guedras, expert on the work of Jean Cocteau.

Charming and poetic poster design for the CNE, which organized a large "Writers' Sale" every year, a fashionable and popular event held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver from 1950 to 1957. In 1955, on the occasion of the celebrations organized in France for the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Jules Verne (who died in 1905), Cocteau, who was always fascinated by the imagination of Jules Verne (he retraced the journey of "Around the World in 80 Days" in 1936 for the newspaper Paris-Soir, see below), sketched a hot air balloon and its joyful passengers. The letters C, N, and E arranged around the top of the balloon designate the Committee while also evoking the cardinal points of a compass. On the left, a flock of birds can be seen accompanying the balloon as it glides through the cloud cover. A very beautiful signature.
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"CNES salute to Jules Verne and the Vel d'Hiv'
Jean Cocteau
✯ 1955"
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