Minerve

Jean Cocteau’s Minerve is a rare Aubusson tapestry created in 1963 and woven by Chaulet for the Moulin de Vauboyen. Produced in an edition of only six, this example is accompanied by its signed label. Measuring 127 × 98 cm, the work offers a particularly striking textile interpretation of Cocteau’s celebrated graphic style.

Inspired by Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts, the composition centers on a monumental female profile defined by the elegant, flowing lines associated with Cocteau. Vivid yellow forms unfold across a rich blue field, contrasting with the burgundy background and pale face. The resulting image combines the simplicity of drawing with the material presence and scale of a woven work of art.

The tapestry demonstrates how naturally Cocteau’s linear vocabulary could be translated into the historic medium of Aubusson weaving. Its limited production of just six examples reinforces its rarity, while its strong visual identity makes Minerve particularly appealing to collectors of Jean Cocteau and important twentieth-century artist tapestries.