Jean Cocteau was a versatile artist who interacted with a number of prominent artists and was active in various fields as a poet, novelist, playwright, painter, critic, film director, and screenwriter.

 

Born July 5, 1889 in a wealthy family in Maisons-Laffit, a suburb of Paris. His father committed suicide with a pistol when he was nine.From around the age of 20, he emerged as a poet in social circles, and eventually became fascinated by comprehensive art and produced ballet works. He began his activities as an avant-garde writer regardless of genre.

His novels include "Le Grand Ecart" (1923), "Le Livre Blanc" (1928), and "Les Enfants Terribles" (1929).
He is also known for his relationships with Raymond Radiguet and Jean Marais, and his "friendship" with these young men is often described in Le Foyer des artistes – La Difficulté d'être.
After World War II, he also worked on films such as "L'Aigle a Deux Tetes" (1947) and "Orphée" (1949).
In 1955 he was elected to the Academy Francaise, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Belgium. In 1960 he was elected "King of Poets".
In 1963, he suffered a heart attack from his best friend Edith Piaf's obituary and died at the age of 74.