Picasso Portrait of Muse Dora Maar Sells for $37 Million in Paris

A long-hidden Picasso portrait of his longtime muse Dora Maar sold for $37 million at a Paris auction on Friday, drawing global attention to the iconic artist’s work. The painting, titled "Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat (Dora Maar)," had remained out of public view for over eight decades and is part of Picasso’s celebrated "Woman in a Hat" series.

Painted in July 1943, the portrait captures Dora Maar in a brightly colored floral hat, reflecting the vibrancy and emotional depth of Picasso’s art. Maar, an accomplished artist and photographer, had been Picasso’s partner and muse for around seven years, a period marked by both inspiration and heartbreak. The portrait, acquired in 1944 and kept in the family collection ever since, resurfaced at the Drouot auction house in Paris, generating excitement among collectors worldwide.

Auctioneer Christophe Lucien called the sale “an enormous success” and a deeply emotional moment, noting that the painting represented “a little piece of the story of love” between Picasso and Dora Maar. “You see that she was containing tears because she understood that Picasso was leaving her,” Lucien added, highlighting the bittersweet nature of their relationship.

Art experts praised the portrait for its remarkable preservation and vivid colors. Picasso specialist Agnès Sevestre-Barbé noted that the painting retained all its raw material, allowing viewers to experience the full chromatic brilliance of Picasso’s genius. Previously, the work had only been seen in black-and-white photographs, leaving collectors unaware of its striking vibrancy.

The Picasso portrait of Dora Maar fetched 32,012,397 euros, including buyer fees, far exceeding estimates and marking the highest price paid at auction in France this year. While impressive, it remains below some of Picasso’s record-breaking sales, such as "Femme à la montre" ($139.4 million) and "Les Femmes d'Alger" ($179.4 million).

Collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide celebrated the auction as a rare opportunity to witness the emotional depth and artistic mastery of Picasso, particularly through the lens of his muse Dora Maar. The sale underscores the enduring appeal of Picasso’s portraits and the timeless fascination with his personal and artistic relationships.