An oil painting by the legendary artist Pablo Picasso — hidden from the public eye for over 80 years — is finally going up for auction next month in Paris.
The artwork, titled “Bust of a Woman in a Flowery Hat,” features one of Picasso’s most iconic muses, Dora Maar, a French photographer and painter, wearing a bright, pastel-colored floral hat. While the colors are cheerful — soft greens, blues, and yellows — Dora’s face tells another story. Her expression is distant, even troubled.
A Painting from a Dark Time
Picasso painted this portrait in July 1943, right in the middle of Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. According to art expert Agnès Sevestre-Barbé, this painting holds great historical value, not just because of when it was painted, but because it has been hidden for so long.
“It’s a major artistic and historical work that hasn’t been seen in public for more than 80 years,” she said in an essay published by Lucien Paris, the auction house handling the sale.
Shortly after it was completed, the painting was sold in 1944 to a private collector. Since then, it has stayed in the same family — never exhibited, never sold, and never shared with the public.
Auction and Expected Price
The painting is set to be auctioned on October 24, and it’s expected to fetch at least $9.45 million, according to Reuters. But some experts believe it could go for even more.
Arthur Brand, a well-known Dutch art crime investigator, told CNN he wouldn’t be surprised if the final price exceeds the estimates.
“Every time a hidden Picasso resurfaces, it’s a big deal,” he said.
The Sadness Behind the Smile
Though Dora Maar appears in many of Picasso’s paintings — most famously as “The Weeping Woman” — this particular portrait has a more subtle sadness. Brand points out that Maar seems to be on the verge of tears in the painting, reflecting the emotional tension of the time.
Their romantic relationship was falling apart, and Picasso himself was under pressure. With Nazi forces still occupying Paris, he likely feared for his future as an artist.
“He might have felt hopeless, unsure if he’d ever exhibit again. That anxiety shows in this painting,” Brand said.
Dora Maar: More Than a Muse
Born Henriette Theodora Markovitch in 1907, Dora Maar lived a creative life between Argentina and France. She trained in Paris and built a career in fashion and commercial photography before becoming deeply involved in the art world.
She became Picasso’s lover and muse in the 1930s, but the relationship came with struggles. In later years, Maar said Picasso’s fame overshadowed her own artistic identity.
“I’m still too famous as Picasso’s mistress to be accepted as a painter,” she once told American art writer James Lord.
Despite being immortalized in many of his works, Maar criticized his portraits of her, calling them “lies.”
Later in life, she moved away from photography and focused on painting, religion, and poetry, seeking peace and creative independence.
A Piece of History Up for Grabs
The painting is signed by Picasso in the top-left corner and measures 81 x 60 cm (32 x 24 inches). A certificate of authenticity from the Comité Picasso — the official body that verifies the artist’s works — will be included with the sale.
With the upcoming auction, this once-hidden portrait could find a new home, finally stepping into the spotlight after eight decades in the shadows.