Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) - Le Caducee

Jean COCTEAU (1889-1963) La Cadenza? no. Wait carefully.

Le Caducée (The Caduceus) is a well-known decorative work by the French artist, poet, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, originally created in 1963. It is most commonly known as a wool tapestry, rather than a painting or sculpture.

The work is a woven wool tapestry produced at the Moulin de Vauboyen in Bièvres, France, a workshop known for translating artists' designs into textile form.

The work depicts the caduceus—a traditional symbol associated with Hermes in Greek mythology, featuring a staff entwined by two snakes and topped by wings. In modern contexts, it is frequently associated with medicine and commerce. Consistent with Cocteau’s late-career graphic style, the design is characterized by clean, elegant, and fluid lines. Cocteau’s drawings often favored minimalist, almost sketch-like simplicity that translates well into the medium of tapestry.

This work is part of a broader body of decorative and applied arts created by Cocteau toward the end of his life. During this period, he expanded his artistic output beyond film and poetry to include ceramics, murals, and textile designs. His interest in mythology - evident in his films like Orphée - is a recurring theme in these works, making the mythological symbol of the caduceus a natural subject for his artistic exploration.