A portrait by Pablo Picasso, kept hidden in a private collection for more than 80 years, recently fetched over $34.4 million at a Paris auction, marking the highest art sale in France this year.
The painting, titled “Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat,” sold for 32,012,397 euros ($34,413,326) at the Drouot auction house. This marked the first time the artwork had been offered for public sale in over eight decades.
Auctioneer Christophe Lucien confirmed the piece was painted by the Spanish master in July 1943. It depicts Dora Maar, an artist and photographer who was both Picasso’s lover and muse.
The artwork was created during a period marking the bitter end of their romantic relationship. It was originally purchased in 1944 and remained in the same private collection until its recent auction by the original owner’s heirs.
Art scholar Agnès Sevestre-Barbé, an expert on Picasso’s works, noted the painting’s pristine condition. She stated it appeared “as if it just left the studio,” adding that the unvarnished surface revealed the true layers of color, showcasing Picasso’s artistic genius.
Despite its significant price, this sale does not represent a global record for a Picasso artwork. The artist’s “Woman with a Watch” sold for $139.4 million in 2023.
The all-time record for a Picasso painting remains “Women of Algiers,” which was auctioned for $179.4 million in 2015.