Jean Cocteau - Galerie BERT

Interview with Dominique Bert
Sylvia Beder: How did you become interested in the work of Jean Cocteau?
Dominique Bert: Before I discovered paintings and drawings, I enjoyed literature and, in particular,
poetry. So, naturally, I came across Jean Cocteau’s drawings in the books he had illustrated. For me
Jean Cocteau was a link between poetry and drawing. He once wrote poets do not draw. They
unravel the written word and then arrange it in another form. I like this idea. One must take
their time to stop in front of a drawing, to look at it and to read it.
S.B. There have already been many exhibitions on Cocteau. Why should there be another one?
D.B. In 1965 there was the Cocteau exhibition at the Jacquemart-André Museum where the catalogue
is now a major source of reference. Annie Guédras has made a serious contribution to Cocteau’s
international reputation with the important exhibitions she has organised, particularly those
overseas, such as in Brazil and in Japan. In 2003, the Centre Pompidou held a fascinating exhibition
of his work, so there is a lot of activity around Cocteau.
Brigitte Richart is currently preparing an exhibition called Cocteau and Women for the Anacréon
Museum in Granville. Michel Bépoix is working on another one entitled Cocteau and Mythology
to be held in Athens and Annie Guédras is working on an exhibition in Aquitaine for 2008.
My personal collection shown here presents some rare and unknown pieces as well as a few
drawings I discovered and saved from oblivion.
S.B. Why do you focus your collecting on Jean Cocteau?
D.B. For me, Cocteau is the center of a wheel from which radiates poetry, theatre, novels, ballet, cinema
and music... Appreciating Cocteau is, of course, appreciating the 20th century in its richness and
modernity and also loving antiquity and mythology.
S.B. Is Cocteau’s work as appreciated overseas as in France?
D.B. Yes, there are many Cocteau collectors worldwide. Some of the collections are very original and quite
moving, such as a collection in Basel formed by Nicolas Kinzel and Christian Schilling. It is dedicated to
Cocteau’s Saint-Cloud period of his works produced when he was being treated for opium addiction.
S.B. What advice would you give to someone starting a collection?
D.B. Work with passion and with patience!
Interviewed by Sylvia Beder, Head of Communications for le Louvre des Antiquaires
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