Marcel Proust Portrait Drawing by Jean Cocteau

This item is a framed ink-on-paper drawing featuring a stylized portrait of the French novelist Marcel Proust, rendered in the distinctive minimalist line-drawing style associated with the artist Jean Cocteau. The subject is depicted from the chest up, wearing a high collar and cravat, with a small mustache and heavy-lidded eyes. The drawing is executed in black ink on off-white or cream-colored paper. Beneath the illustration, the name 'Marcel Proust' is handwritten in a script that matches the artistic hand. Additional cursive notations are present in the lower margin, likely providing a dedication, date, or specific location, though they are partially obscured by light reflection and the framing. The piece is housed in a simple, modern black square frame with a white overmat. Condition-wise, the paper shows slight signs of aging with minor foxing spots visible in the upper register. The ink lines remain crisp and dark, suggesting good preservation within the frame. The gestural nature of the strokes indicates a confident, quick execution typical of early 20th-century avant-garde sketches. The composition focuses on the psychological intensity of the subject through economical use of line.