Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) - Le Caducee

Jean COCTEAU (1889-1963) The caduceus Tapestry signed and dated 1963 in the bottom right.
Numbered 32/100.
Edition of 100 copies.
Printed on the back The caduceus, cardboard by Jean Cocteau published by the artistic and cultural center of the Vauboyen mill in Bièvres (91). 114 x 89 cm (see photo for defect).
It will be carefully packaged to avoid any damage during delivery.

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.