One of the most impactful works of Pablo Picasso is finally going to floor art lovers. It will go under the hammer at the Drouot auction house in Paris on 28 January. The painting, titled “Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat (Dora Maar),” depicts the artist’s muse and partner, Dora Maar, adorned in a vibrant floral hat. This painting from July of 1943 showcases Picasso’s artistic genius, as does the often torrid relationship between the two luminaries.
Dora Maar, Parrot noses Picasso and his partner for approximately seven years. She was instrumental in helping inspire him during perhaps the most important time of his career. As their relationship neared a painful conclusion, Picasso poured his emotions into this portrait, reflecting both the vibrancy and complexity of their bond.
The painting belongs to Picasso’s “Woman in a Hat” cycle. Yet it has been kept out of the public eye for more than eighty years. This work was acquired in 1944. It has been kept in a private family collection ever since, thus the forthcoming auction marks a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for serious collectors and admirers alike.
Christophe Lucien, the auctioneer in charge of the sale, stated that he was excited by the worldwide interest in the painting. He noted, “It’s being talked about in all the world capitals with a strong art market, from the United States to Asia, and of course through all the major European markets.”
Agnes Sevestre-Barbé, a specialist in Picasso’s works, praised the painting’s remarkable condition, stating, “We have a painting that is exactly as it was when it left the studio.” She discussed the lack of varnish, enabling viewers to see the detail of every subtle color and texture.
“It’s a painting that speaks for itself,” – Agnes Sevestre-Barbé
Per Sevestre-Barbé, the piece is “brimming with emotion,” representing “the totality of Picasso’s genius.” She described it as a piece where one can truly “feel all the colors, the entire chromatic range.”
Lucien declined to provide a high or low estimate of the final sale price. His aim was to underscore the painting’s unprecedented status and significance in the global art market.
