Picasso Painting Unseen For 80 Years Revealed At Paris Auction House
A newly discovered painting of the French photographer and painter Dora Maar done by Pablo Picasso has been unveiled after remaining unseen for 80 years. The painting was completed during the German occupation of Paris in July 1943.
‘Bust of a Woman in a Flowery Hat’ was finished towards the end of Picasso and Maar’s nine-year relationship. It’s described as showing Maar in a softer, more colorful light when compared to other portraits Picasso painted of her.
One of the most famous paintings of Maar by Picasso is the ‘Portrait of Dora Maar and Dora Maar au Chat.’ Maar, however, has stated that: “All of his portraits of me are lies. They’re all Picassos. Not one is Dora Maar.”
Picasso and Maar met at the end of 1935 when she was taking photographs to promote Jean Renoir’s film The Crime of Monsieur Lange. At the time they met, Picasso was in a relationship with Marie-Thérèse Walter, and the two shared a daughter Maya.
In the newly rediscovered work, Maar’s face is fragmented, but painted in bright colors without perspective. Maar appears anguished and on the point of weeping. At the time the work was created, Maar had learned Picasso, who was 61, was intending on leaving her for 21-year-old artist Françoise Gilot.
The portrait was only displayed a few times at the time of its completion outside Picasso’s Paris atelier in the Rue des Grands Augustins. When Paris was liberated in August 1944, the painting remained in a private collection after being purchased.
The painting’s existence was known from a black and white photograph taken after it was sold and featured in an art catalogue. The seller inherited the painting from a grandparent who was an unnamed French collector.
When the Nazis occupied Paris during World War II, Picasso’s work was considered to be “degenerate.” This led to multiple raids on his atelier and threats of banning exhibitions of his paintings.
Maar died in Paris in 1997 at 89, and is known for being Picasso’s muse in addition to his subject and lover. Independently, she was a surrealist photographer whose style had a major influence on Picasso’s work throughout their relationship.
The auction house Lucien Paris has estimated the oil painting to be worth £6.9m (around $9.3 million), but they’re expecting it to sell for more. The house kept the painting’s existence a secret before they revealed it to the press this week.
Auctioneer Christophe Lucien stated that this is a “significant discovery,” describing the work as a masterpiece and rare example of how Picasso’s work acted as a light during the darkest of days throughout the occupation, the Guardian reported.
“It is not only a milestone in the history of art but also in the private life of Picasso,” Lucien said.
“It is a refreshing portrait of Dora Maar; exceptional and full of emotion. Discovering it is a big moment in our lives as experts.”
The painting will be sold by Lucien Paris on October 24th and will be on display for three days before the sale.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
