Cocteau inscribes a book of line drawings to Vanity Fair editor Frank Crowninshield

Cocteau, Jean, French writer and artist (1889-1963). Dessins.

€ 1.500,00

Inscribed "à Frank Crowninshield / son ami de France / Jean Cocteau", complete with a small sketched heart. Two other notes surround this dedication: one reads "acceptez cette poésie en espèranto" and the other "vive l'amérique!", a playful acknowledgement of Crowninshield's residence in Manhattan.

Frank Crowninshield (1872-1947) was born in Paris to American parents; he moved to the United States for a career as a highly respected editor of Vanity Fair. At his death Crowninshield was credited with bringing to America the "cafe culture" of Paris, and all the artistic and cultural sensibilities that implied. Cocteau was from a similar milieu, a Frenchman of the 20th century steeped in its new art forms. He was part of the vanguard of surrealist, avant-garde, and Dadaist movements, and pushed poetry, theatre, drawing, and painting in new directions. This particular volume showcases Cocteau's line drawings, almost all of human figures.

A touch of exterior wear, some toning to leaves. A fine association copy.