ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Cocteau and Duchamp: Invisibility and Disappearance in Art

exhibition · 2026-04-23

Dominique Païni, general curator of the exhibition 'Jean Cocteau sur le fil du siècle' at the Centre Pompidou, explores an overlooked aspect of Jean Cocteau: his relationship with Marcel Duchamp. Cocteau was a draftsman, novelist, poet, filmmaker, and choreographer, making him 'invisible' due to his swift movements between arts. Invisibility obsessed him, not just as a pose but as a result of speed between disciplines. The article questions which other 20th-century artist shared this passion for invisibility, erasure, and disappearance besides Duchamp.

Key facts

  • Dominique Païni is the general curator of the exhibition 'Jean Cocteau sur le fil du siècle' at the Centre Pompidou.
  • The exhibition focuses on Cocteau's relationship with Marcel Duchamp.
  • Cocteau was a draftsman, novelist, poet, filmmaker, and choreographer.
  • Cocteau was obsessed with invisibility as a result of moving swiftly between arts.
  • Duchamp also had a passion for invisibility, erasure, and disappearance.
  • The article is published in artpress.
  • The exhibition was held at Centre Pompidou.
  • The article date is March 1, 2004.

Entities

Artists

  • Jean Cocteau
  • Marcel Duchamp
  • Dominique Païni

Institutions

  • Centre Pompidou
  • artpress

Locations

  • Paris
  • France

Sources