40 x 40 in.
Screenprint on paper. Edition of 250. Signed and numbered.
At the end of 1983, Andy Warhol created a portrait of Jean Cocteau to illustrate the cover of a special edition magazine of Libération that was dedicated to the poet.
In 1985, the Jean Cocteau museum in Irvine California was scheduled to open under the direction of Mr. Séverin Wunderman. After having seen this portrait, Wunderman contacted Fred Hughes to meet Warhol in the Spring of 1985. They were invited to the Factory where Warhol showed them all the studies he had completed for the portrait.
Immediately taken by this work, Wunderman asked if Warhol was planning to turn this work into a painting some day, to which Warhol responded affirmatively. Wunderman explained that he possessed the most important collection of works by Jean Cocteau in the world and furthermore shared his intention to open the museum and exhibit the poet’s works throughout the world.
