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Illustrated Letter to Jean Cocteau

1916
Not on view
Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), the French poet, artist, and (later) filmmaker, met Picasso in June 1915; within the year he was pressing Picasso to design sets for his revolutionary ballet, Parade. Picasso wrote this card to Cocteau upon hearing that he was unwell:

My dear Cocteau
I am quite sad
that you are ill.
I hope that you
will be well soon and
that I will see you.
At Montparnasse next Wednesday's
festivities in honor of the musician
I hope to see you.
I have good ideas
for our theater story
we shall talk about it
Best wishes
Picasso

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Illustrated Letter to Jean Cocteau
  • Artist: Pablo Picasso (Spanish, Malaga 1881–1973 Mougins, France)
  • Date: 1916
  • Medium: Pen and black ink and opaque watercolor on graph paper
  • Dimensions: Full sheet: 6 7/8 × 8 9/16 in. (17.4 × 21.8 cm)
    Folded sheet: 6 7/8 × 4 5/16 in. (17.4 × 10.9 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of William S. Lieberman, 2005
  • Object Number: 2007.49.78
  • Rights and Reproduction: © 2025 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

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