Picasso's portrait of "muse" Dora Maar sets auction record

The auction of Picasso's "muse" painting ended at 27 million euros, bringing the total value to more than 32 million euros after fees - the highest price for a work of art in France this year.

Pablo Picasso's colorful portrait of his "muse," also his longtime lover Dora Maar, sold for 32 million euros (37 million USD) at an auction in Paris, France, on October 24.

“Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat (Dora Maar)” , completed in July 1943, depicts Maar in a colorful flowered hat.

At that time, the seven-year love affair between Picasso and the artist and photographer was gradually coming to an end.

The painting was purchased in 1944 and for more than eight decades has remained in the family collection, never appearing on the market.

Auction house Drouot called the reappearance of the work – part of its “Woman in a Hat” series – “a moment of rare significance, revealing in full splendor the once-hidden masterpiece.”

The auction, run by auctioneer Christophe Lucien, ended at 27 million euros ($31.4 million), bringing the total to more than 32 million euros after fees, well above the initial estimate and the highest price for a work of art in France this year.

“This is a great success, a small piece of the love story – albeit a bitter one – between Picasso and Dora Maar,” said Mr. Lucien.

Picasso expert Agnes Sevestre-Barbé commented at the pre-auction showing that the portrait retains its original colour due to the lack of varnish: “We are seeing the work as it left the studio – vivid, original and showing all of Picasso's natural talent.”

Previously, the art world had only known the painting through a black-and-white photograph. “No one expected it to be so vibrant and magical,” Ms. Sevestre-Barbé added.

In 2023, Picasso's "Femme à la montre" (Woman with a Watch) was sold for 139.4 million USD, while the highest record was 179.4 million USD for "Les Femmes d'Alger" (Women of Alger) in 2015./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/buc-chan-dung-nang-tho-dora-maar-cua-danh-hoa-picasso-lap-ky-luc-dau-gia-post1072714.vnp