Jean Cocteau 

This is a portrait head of Jean Cocteau made by Arno Breker, though the date is unknown. Breker was a controversial figure, a German sculptor who was a favorite artist of the Nazi elite during the Third Reich. The image presents Cocteau as a man of intellect and refinement, yet the rough, unfinished quality of the sculpture also suggests a kind of raw, untamed energy. How can we reconcile the aesthetic qualities of this portrait with the history of its maker? Was this sculpture made during or after the Second World War? Breker's close association with the Nazi regime has understandably cast a shadow over his entire artistic output. Does this sculpture in some way redeem him? Does it amplify the problematic aspects of his work? Careful art historical research into the provenance of artworks such as this can help us to better understand the complex social and political contexts in which they were made.