The artwork titled “Jean Cocteau with actress Ricki Soma and dancer Leo Coleman” was captured by Philippe Halsman in 1949. This black-and-white photo, representative of the Surrealism art movement, combines the realms of performance and visual art through an intricate composition featuring its three subjects.
In the artwork, a man, presumably Jean Cocteau, is holding an ornate, empty picture frame through which the head and shoulders of a woman, likely Ricki Soma, are visible. The woman is wearing a tight, white head covering, and her face is the focal point within the frame, appearing almost like a painting within the photograph. The man’s arm extends into the frame, with a brush poised near the woman’s mouth, suggesting an act of creation or transformation. Beneath them, a man lies horizontally, his upper torso exposed, and his head leaning back in an artistic pose. The harmonious blend of figures, alongside the interplay of shadow and light, creates a surreal and thought-provoking tableau, reflecting the essence of Surrealism in a striking and evocative manner.
