The artwork titled “Ascélpios (Esculape)” is the creation of the artist Jean Cocteau. It falls within the Expressionism art movement and is categorized under the genre of design. This piece is part of a series of plate designs.
The artwork features a symmetrical, face-like design with abstract and geometric patterns. Two profile faces are mirrored and joined at the center, forming a central vertical axis composed of interwoven red and white lines, which emphasizes a serpent-like shape reminiscent of the Rod of Asclepius, symbolizing healing. Above, there is a singular eye that attracts immediate attention. The background is filled with intricate triangular and swirl patterns rendered in a muted gray color, which are accented with small black dots. The overall aesthetic is both modernist and echoing tribal art forms, adhering to the expressionistic emphasis on emotion and abstraction.