Workers at the auction house showed a painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso of his partner Dora Maar in Paris on Thursday. CNN
An oil painting by Pablo Picasso, hidden from the public for over 80 years, will go up for auction in Paris next month. The artwork, titled Bust of a Woman in a Flowery Hat, shows French artist and photographer Dora Maar, one of Picasso’s famous muses and lovers, wearing a bright, flowery hat in soft green, blue, and yellow tones. Despite the lively colours, Dora’s face looks worried and thoughtful.
A Historic and Emotional Work
Picasso created this piece in July 1943 during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Art expert Agnès Sevestre-Barbé described the painting as “a canvas of major historical and artistic importance,” especially because it has never been shown to the public before.
Sevestre-Barbé explained that Picasso had recently met a new muse, Françoise Gilot, who later brought a lighter spirit to his work. However, in 1943, Dora Maar was still his main model. The painting was bought in 1944 by a private collector, and the family has kept it since then, never exhibiting or selling it until now.
Expected to Draw High Interest
The painting’s price is expected to start at about US$9.45 million. Art historian Arthur Brand said the final price could be even higher. Brand, who has recovered many stolen art pieces, called Picasso “one of the greatest artists of the 20th century,” making this discovery very exciting.
Brand noted that this portrait shows a sadder side of Maar compared to earlier works. “It seems like she is crying,” he said. This sadness may reflect the end of their relationship and the harsh reality of the Nazi occupation.
Picasso and Dora Maar’s Story
Picasso painted Maar many times, including the famous Weeping Woman from 1937, which symbolized the pain of the Spanish Civil War. Maar, born Henriette Theodora Markovitch in 1907, grew up between Argentina and France. She became a skilled photographer and artist but struggled to gain recognition outside of her connection with Picasso. She once said, “I’m still too famous as Picasso’s mistress to be accepted as a painter.”
Later in life, Maar focused more on painting and found comfort in poetry, religion, and philosophy.
Auction Details
The painting measures 81 by 60 centimetres (32 by 24 inches) and bears Picasso’s signature in the upper left corner. It will be sold at auction on October 24 in Paris. The buyer will receive a certificate from the Comité Picasso, a group that authenticates Picasso’s work.
