Jean Cocteau, emblematic figure of the 20th century, marked French art and literature by his unique personality and his work. Poet, playwright, filmmaker, cartoonist and painter, he shone in each of these fields, leaving his mark on cultural history.

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After serving as a paramedic during the First World War, Jean Cocteau surrounded himself with eminent artists such as Guillaume Apollinaire, Paul Éluard and Christian Bérard, who creates the decorations for his pieces. In 1917, he created Parade, ballet in collaboration with Erik Satie and Pablo Picasso. Cocteau rubbed shoulders with Dadaist circles and left a strong impression in literary circles. A prolific, non-conformist and versatile artist, he claims to be above all a poet. However, his talents as a designer and painter are also remarkable, as evidenced by his ornaments in the chapels of Villefranche and Milly-la-Forêt. His pictorial production, closely linked to his poetic and theatrical work, is often perceived as a visual extension of his words, thus giving a figurative dimension to his artistic expression.

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In 1955, Cocteau was elected a member of the Académie française and an exhibition of 180 of his pastels was presented in Rome, highlighting the extent of his talent and creativity. In 1966, the Jean Cocteau Museum opens its doors in Menton, a city for which the artist confessed a real “crush”.