PABLO PICASSO | Le Médecin auprès de Jean Cocteau malade

Jean Cocteau, Paris
Ed Dermit (by descent from the above)
Sotheby's, New York, 30 September 1999, lot 107

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Claude Picasso.

Executed on cream laid paper, not laid down. The work is executed on the front page of a larger sheet folded like a card. The back cover is t-hinged to the mount and has a square cut out of its upper edge. There is a horizontal crease running across the centre of the sheet probably folded by the artist to fit in an envelope. There is some very minor, barely visible foxing in places. Otherwise, this work is in overall very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau met in June of 1915 at one of Count Étienne de Beaumont’s infamous masked balls. A leading figure of les années folles in Paris and long standing patron of modern artists, dancers and musicians alike, Beaumont made a habit of putting together like minded souls who would help each other achieve their artistic goals. Quickly after their meeting Cocteau set about convincing Picasso to design the costumes and sets for his ballet: Parade. Scored by Erik Satie and performed by Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes the ballet was elevated common entertainment into high art – due to its ground breaking approach and unusual themes the ballet was received terribly by contemporary critics and patrons alike. However, Picasso enjoyed both professional and personal success off the back of the ‘Parade debacle’. His cubist costumes and dream-like sets inspired the poet Guillaume Apollinaire to coin the word ‘surrealism’ in his program notes, long before Surrealism became an artistic phenomenon in Paris. Further to this Picasso met and subsequently married one of the dancers in the Ballet Russes: Olga Khoklova.

Cocteau and Picasso remained friends following Parade, and through their mutual love of bull-fighting and shared compulsion to always create, would enjoy each other’s company for the rest of their lives. The artists often dedicated drawings and humorous works to each other with Picasso often making fun of his close friend.