A long-lost painting by Pablo Picasso, unseen for 80 years, has been revealed. The work, titled Bust of a Woman in a Flowery Hat (Dora Maar), portrays the French photographer and painter Dora Maar and was created during the German occupation of Paris. Completed near the end of the couple’s intense nine-year relationship, it shows Maar in a softer, more vibrant style than Picasso’s earlier depictions of her.
Picasso painted Maar many times, including in well-known works like Portrait of Dora Maar and Dora Maar au Chat. Maar herself once remarked, “All his portraits of me are lies. They’re all Picassos. Not one is Dora Maar.”
The two met in late 1935 while Maar was photographing scenes for Jean Renoir’s film The Crime of Monsieur Lange. At the time, Picasso was involved with Marie-Thérèse Walter, the mother of his daughter Maya, and he maintained that relationship even as he began seeing Maar.
Picasso often depicted Maar as a tormented, weeping figure, reflecting both her masochistic nature—which intrigued him—and the turmoil of their relationship. Paintings like Weeping Woman are thought to symbolize the anguish of the Spanish Civil War, but they also hint at the alleged abuse and frequent physical clashes between the couple.
In this rediscovered painting, Maar’s face is fragmented yet brightly colored, conveying anguish and the brink of tears. It was painted in July 1943, around the time she learned that the 61-year-old Picasso planned to leave her for the 21-year-old artist Françoise Gilot.
The portrait was rarely shown outside Picasso’s Paris studio on Rue des Grands Augustins and entered a private collection in August 1944, just months before Paris was liberated. Its existence was documented by a black-and-white photo in an art catalog, but the painting itself had not been seen publicly since. The current owner, who inherited it from a grandparent—an unnamed French collector—wishes to remain anonymous.
During the Nazi occupation, Picasso’s art was labeled “degenerate,” leading to raids on his studio and threats to ban his exhibitions. Maar, who passed away in Paris in 1997 at age 89, was not only Picasso’s muse, lover, and subject but also an accomplished surrealist photographer in her own right, greatly influencing his work during their time together.
The auction house Lucien Paris has conservatively valued the 80cm x 60cm oil painting at around €8 million (£6.9 million) but anticipates it will sell for much more. The painting’s existence was kept secret until its unveiling to the press.
Auctioneer Christophe Lucien described the work as a masterpiece and a significant find, noting how Picasso’s art provided a beacon of light during the dark years of the occupation. While experts knew of the painting from photographs, this is the first time its true colors have been visible.
“It is not only a milestone in art history but also in Picasso’s personal life,” Lucien said. “This is a refreshing, exceptional, and deeply emotional portrait of Dora Maar. Discovering it is a major moment for us as experts.”
The painting will be displayed for three days before being auctioned by Lucien Paris on October 24.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the unveiling of a longunseen Picasso painting designed to be clear and helpful for a wide audience
General Beginner Questions
Q What is this news about a new Picasso painting
A A Paris auction house has just revealed a painting by Pablo Picasso that has been kept in a private collection and hidden from public view for the last 80 years
Q Which Picasso painting was unveiled
A The unveiled painting is titled Femme endormie It is an oil on canvas portrait
Q When was this painting created
A Picasso painted it in 1932 a period considered one of his most brilliant and creative
Q Why is this such a big deal
A Its a major event because no one outside of a single private family has seen this significant work for eight decades making its rediscovery a thrilling moment for the art world
Q Who is the woman in the painting
A The subject is Picassos famous muse and lover MarieThérse Walter who inspired many of his greatest works from that era
Q Where can I see this painting
A It will be displayed to the public by the auction house in Paris before it is sold at auction on June 18 2024
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q How did the painting remain unseen for so long
A It was purchased by a single family in 1937 and has been passed down through generations remaining in their private home never loaned to museums or publicly exhibited
Q What is the estimated value of the painting
A The auction house has given it a presale estimate of 2530 million
Q What makes the 1932 period so special in Picassos career
A 1932 is often called his year of wonders He was at the peak of his powers creating highly sensual colorful and masterful portraits of MarieThérse Walter that blend Cubist distortion with classical beauty
Q How do experts know its a genuine Picasso and not a forgery
A The painting has a welldocumented history proven
