Andre Micheau (XX) - Jean Cocteau working on 'Apocalypse' - c. 1950

Dimenssions: 23.3 x 17.8 cm
Gelatin silver print
Photographer's stamp on verso

Condition very good - all imperfections exactly as seen on the scan

Biography

Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French writer, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. Cocteau is best known for his novel Les Enfants Terribles (1929), and the films The Blood of a Poet (1930), Les Parents Terribles (1948), Beauty and the Beast (1946) and Orpheus (1949). His circle of associates, friends included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Gertrude Stein, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Yul Brynner, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, Albert Gleizes, Igor Stravinsky, Marie Laurencin, María Félix, Édith Piaf, Panama Al Brown, Colette, Jean Genet, and Raymond Radiguet. His Partner was Jean Marais, actor. Jean Cocteau is the gay icon of the 20th century. He became a very famous artist for his homoerotic drawings.

Andre Micheau

Andre Micheau was a well-known French photographer active in the mid-20th century, recognized for his fashion and personality photos. His work includes capturing significant cultural figures of his time, such as artists signing works atop books by Bernard Buffet, with scenes often featuring notable backgrounds or companions suggesting their professions or societal roles. For instance, one of his photographs showcases the artist Tsuguharu Foujita dedicating a work, with elements in the image hinting at an air hostess’ presence, suggesting a blend of artistic and everyday life moments captured through his lens??.

Micheau’s ability to document the essence of the 20th-century cultural landscape, combined with his talent for fashion photography, positioned him as a significant figure in capturing and portraying the zeitgeist of his era through photography. His works are appreciated not only for their historical value but also for their artistic quality, offering a window into the lives and environments of mid-20th-century personalities and fashion.

A vintage black and white photograph. The photo depicts two individuals examining a piece of artwork or a similar object. The photographer's stamp on the back indicates it's a reportage photo by André Michaeu from 11, Rue Mogador - 9e, Paris. The image is a classic style print.