Artist plate no. 2 Jean Cocteau, Rosenthal studio line, limited edition
Edition No. 2641/5000/2. Original box.
Signed and inscribed: "Es gibt immer ein Gegenüber: Ohne Teufel haette Gott nie die breite Masse angesprochen". (Translation: "There is always a counterpart: Without the devil, God would never have addressed the masses.")
This artist plate combines Rosenthal's precise porcelain craftsmanship with the characteristic linear poetry of Jean Cocteau. Two facing profile heads merge into a symmetrical composition; in the center, an all-seeing eye suggests the idea of duality and opposition. Clear lines and sparse accent colors (blue, orange, black) are typical of Cocteau's graphic imagery. The surrounding motto emphasizes the theme of opposites.
The Cocteau plate is one of the most expressive examples in the Rosenthal collection of limited-edition artist plates—a piece of art history that blends symbolism, aesthetics, and craftsmanship.
Jean Cocteau (1889–1963)
Cocteau was a poet, writer, illustrator, and filmmaker—a key figure of the Parisian avant-garde. In his work, literature, visual art, and film merged into a unique artistic language. The versatile artist Cocteau is considered one of the most important cultural mediators of his time. His visual work thrives on reduced lines, profiles, and mythical symbols; it combines classicism with modern experimentation and continues to shape the understanding of interdisciplinary art to this day.
