Jean Cocteau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jean Cocteau
Cocteau in 1923
Born	Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (1889-07-05)5 July 1889 Maisons-Laffitte, France
Died	11 October 1963(1963-10-11) (aged 74) Milly-la-Forêt, France
Other names	The Frivolous Prince
Occupation	Poet playwright novelist filmmaker visual artist designer
Years active	1908–1963
Partner(s)	Raymond Radiguet (1919–1923) Jean Bourgoint (1925) Jean Desbordes (1926–1933) Marcel Khill (1933–1937) Jean Marais (1937–1947) Édouard Dermit (1947–1963)
Signature

Jean Cocteau (born 5 July 1889 – died 11 October 1963) was a very talented French artist. He was a poet, writer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He was a key figure in the art world of the early 1900s.

Cocteau was known for many things. He wrote popular novels like Les Enfants Terribles (1929). He also wrote plays such as La Voix Humaine (1930) and Les Parents terribles (1938). His famous films include Beauty and the Beast (1946) and Orpheus (1950). Even though he worked in many art forms, Cocteau always called himself a poet first.

Early Life and Beginnings

Jean Cocteau was born in Maisons-Laffitte, France. His family was well-known in Paris. His father, who was a lawyer and liked to paint, died when Jean was nine years old.

Cocteau went to Lycée Condorcet school from 1900 to 1904. He left home when he was fifteen. At nineteen, he published his first book of poems, called Aladdin's Lamp.

Cocteau's Artistic Journey

Portrait of Jean Cocteau in his 20s by Spanish painter Federico de Madrazo y Ochoa

Jean Cocteau was a very busy artist. He wrote or helped create 21 stage shows. Some of these were ballets, and others were plays.

His movies were very important for French cinema. They helped bring new, experimental ideas to films. Cocteau's work influenced the famous French New Wave film movement later on.

He also worked with the famous painter Pablo Picasso on several projects. Cocteau was friends with many important artists in Europe. In all his creative work, he was a modernist, meaning he liked new and experimental styles.

Working with Ballets

Cocteau was involved with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes from its first season in Paris in 1909. He wrote the stories (called librettos) for several ballets:

• Le Dieu Blue (1912)
• Parade (1917)
• Le Train Bleu (1924)

He also designed posters for the ballet company. He wrote many articles about dance and drew sketches of the dancers.

Plays and Films

In 1940, Cocteau wrote a play called Le Bel Indifférent. It starred the famous singer Édith Piaf and was a huge success.

Cocteau directed eleven movies in an avant-garde (experimental) style. He also wrote the scripts for six movies and dialogue for three others. Some of his most famous films include:

• Blood of a Poet (1930)
• Les Parents terribles (1948)
• Orpheus (1949)

Writing and Poetry

Cocteau wrote a lot, especially poetry. While most of his work was in French, some of it has been translated into other languages.

He wrote five novels. One of his most important novels was Les Enfants terribles (1929). He also published 23 books of original poetry. He illustrated 12 poetry books himself. Cocteau also made recordings, mostly of him reading his poems.

Personal Life

Jean Cocteau had long-lasting relationships with French actors Jean Marais and Édouard Dermit.

Later Years and Passing

Cocteau passed away from a heart attack at his home in Milly-la-Forêt, France, on 11 October 1963. He was 74 years old.

He is buried under the floor of the Chapelle Saint-Blaise des Simples in Milly-la-Forêt. His gravestone reads: "I stay with you" ("Je reste avec vous").

Awards and Recognition

In 1955, Cocteau became a member of the Académie Française and The Royal Academy of Belgium. These are very important honors for artists and writers.

During his life, Cocteau received many other awards and titles:

• Commander of the Legion of Honor (a top French award)
• Member of the Mallarmé Academy, German Academy (Berlin), and American Academy
• Honorary President of the Cannes Film Festival (a major film event)
• President of the Jazz Academy and the Academy of the Disc

Filmography

Works

Literature

Poetry

Novels

Theatre

Film Works

Director

Scriptwriter

Dialogue writer

Artworks

Images for kids

• 

  Amedeo Modigliani, Jean Cocteau, 1916.

• 

  Érik Satie, Parade, theme by Jean Cocteau.

• 

  Marie Laurencin, Portrait de Jean Cocteau, 1921.

• 

  Tribute to René Clair: I Married a Witch, Jean Cocteau (1945), a set design.

See also

In Spanish: Jean Cocteau para niños