Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) - Taureaux. Text by Jean-Marie Magnan. Paris: Michèle Trinckvel. 1965
Complete original portfolio comprising 32 lithographs by Jean Cocteau, including 16 in colors, a frontispiece and title-frontispiece, issued loose as published with text justification page, original lithographid wrappers, and the original yellow cloth chemise and slipcase stamped in red. Printed by the Mourlot atelier and published in Paris shortly after Cocteau's death, Taureaux is regarded as the artist's final livre d'artiste and is frequently described in specialist literature as having been completed only a few hours before his death
The portfolio is devoted to Cocteau's celebrated tauromachia imagery and presents some of the most refined examples of his late graphic style: stylized bulls, toreros, Mediterranean figures, and highly calligraphic linear compositions executed with remarkable spontaneity and elegance. The lithographs combine the immediacy of drawing with the sophistication of the great post-war French illustrated book tradition associated with Mourlot.
This example is one of those exceptionally rare collaborator's copies and bears the printed designation:
"Exemplaire imprimé spécialement pour Monsieur Edouard Dermit." Édouard Dermit was Jean Cocteau's longtime romantic partner, closest collaborator. adopted heir, and principal rights holder after the artist's death. Copies prepared specifically for Dermit possess exceptional historical ana provenance significance, standing apart from the regular commercial edition of 200 numbered examples.
The present portfolio retains its highly desirable original presentation format, including the original lithographic cover and yellow cloth chemise and slipcase, elements frequently missing or restored in surviving examples. The collaborator issue, combinec with the direct association to Dermit and Cocteau's innermost circle, makes this a particularly important and uncommon example of one of the artist's final major illustrated works.
References:
Luc Monod. Manuel de I'Amateur de Livres lllustrés Modernes 1875-1975. no. 7626 Mourlot archive / Atelier Mourlot printing.
