Picasso Artwork Emerges Following 80 Years in Private Ownership, Scheduled for Auction
**A Rediscovered Masterpiece: Picasso’s ‘Buste de femme au chapeau à fleurs’**
After over eight decades hidden in a private collection, Pablo Picasso’s “Buste de femme au chapeau à fleurs (Dora Maar)” is set to be publicly viewed and auctioned next month. Created in 1943, this masterpiece remained under the radar since its purchase in 1944, with its debut on the auction block anticipated at Lucien Paris. Expected to fetch around €8 million ($9.45 million), it is likely to surpass expectations due to its historical and artistic significance.
Dora Maar, Picasso’s muse and lover for nearly a decade, is the subject of this expressive work. Known for his portrayals of Maar that depicted her agony and emotional turmoil, this painting bears the emotional weight of their relationship’s end and the turbulent times of Nazi-occupied France. Maar’s relationship with Picasso, while creatively stimulating, was marked by difficulties and struggles, reflected poignantly in her vacant and pained expression in the painting.
The artwork, characterized by its vibrant color contrasts against its somber theme, captures the complicated interplay of despair and hope. Despite its vivid palette, Maar’s deep-set eyes and compressed lips convey deep emotional strife, mirroring the personal and socio-political distress both Picasso and Maar were experiencing.
Arthur Brand, an art historian, posits that the painting doesn’t only reflect Maar’s sorrow. It might also echo Picasso’s own fears about the uncertain future for art and expression under oppressive regimes. Just as Maar faced personal shifts with Picasso’s departure for a younger woman, Picasso was likely grappling with the potential endpoint of his own artistic pursuits under Nazi rule.
Described by art historian Agnes Sevestre-Barbe in the auction catalog, this portrait is deemed to hold major historical and artistic importance. Its concealment from the public eye has added a layer of intrigue and longing among art enthusiasts, who have until now only seen it in photographs within a black-and-white context. Its rematerialization in color allows a revived appreciation of Picasso’s emotional technique and legacy.
Auctioneer Christophe Lucien emphasizes the painting’s relevance not only within the realm of Picasso’s artistic narrative but also in the personal chapters of his life. He envisions the sale as a watershed moment, not only for the art community but for history, underscoring the significance of artworks that capture personal and cultural essences.
As the auction date of October 24, 2025, approaches, “Buste de femme” will be displayed to the public for three days in what promises to be a rare encounter with a once-hidden piece of art history. This event marks a momentous occasion for both enthusiasts of Picasso and connoisseurs of modern art, offering a renewed look at the immersion of personal and historical narratives in art.