Silence! Ici j’ordonne… (Nathalie Paley en sphinx) (1932) by Jean Cocteau

Silence! Ici j’ordonne… (Nathalie Paley en sphinx) - Jean Cocteau - 1932

Artwork Information

TitleSilence! Ici j’ordonne… (Nathalie Paley en sphinx)
ArtistJean Cocteau
Date1932
Art MovementExpressionism

About Silence! Ici j’ordonne… (Nathalie Paley en sphinx)

The artwork titled “Silence! Ici j’ordonne… (Nathalie Paley en sphinx)” is a remarkable creation by the artist Jean Cocteau, completed in the year 1932. This portrait falls within the Expressionism movement, a genre that typically seeks to evoke emotion through the artist’s subjective perspective. Additionally, this piece of work is categorized as a portrait, which traditionally focuses on the depiction of an individual, capturing their likeness or essence.

The artwork embodies a synthesis of photographic and illustrative mediums, depicting a woman’s profile in a black and white photograph affixed to a paper background adorned with doodles and inscriptions. The photograph is positioned within the center of the scene, capturing the subject in a sharp, clear profile view, conveying an air of composure and regal stillness. Her image is superimposed onto a roughly drawn figure of a sphinx, with the body of a lion and human-like facial features, delivering a juxtaposition that borders on the surreal.

Textual elements on the paper background add a literary dimension to the artwork, with the declarative statement “Silence! Ici j’ordonne…” inscribed boldly above the photographic image, which translates from French as “Silence! Here I command…” Further scribbles, dates, and a faint signature contribute to the layered complexity of the piece, integrating the artwork’s composition within a palimpsest of visual and textual communication. The surrounding sketches include celestial symbols like stars, enhancing the mystical aura of the piece.

The overall effect of this artwork is one that fuses classical imagery with avant-garde expression, conveying a narrative that is left open to interpretation while reflecting the innovative spirit of the Expressionist movement. The use of a traditional portrait format is subverted through the integration of disparate elements, creating a piece that transcends mere representation to explore deeper themes of identity, power, and the ineffable nature of the human psyche.

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