Jean Cocteau - Paul Blessé - Original Drawing For Les Enfants Terribles - 1935

Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) - Original drawing, 1935. Study for the album Soixante dessins pour les Enfants terribles published in 1935 by Grasset. This drawing is an unpublished variant of "Paul blessé".

Splendid, large-scale original drawing in sepia ink executed on an occasional support, on the reverse of heavyweight paper headed Casino du Lac - Bagnoles de l'Orne. Jean Cocteau was staying there as part of an opium detox.

Size: 30.5 x 24 cm. An elegant marie-louise having framed (and recentered) the drawing, is enclosed with it.

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

In this drawing, Paul collapses at the foot of the lycée staircase, just after the drama in the courtyard.

"The books scattered. Paul, empty-handed, couldn't understand how the snow could hide a stone. He tried to climb the steps, but his legs gave way. He tried to stand up, to pick up his books, but the pain of the break took his breath away. [...] He reached the vestibule, clung to the banister, but his strength failed him. He slid down the rungs and sat on a step, head down, his books scattered around him like dead birds."

(Jean Cocteau, Les Enfants terribles)