Pablo Picasso’s “Woman with Flowered Hat” depicting his muse and lover Dora Maar sold for €32 million at a Paris auction after more than eight decades in private collection.
The artwork, created in July 1943 during the German occupation of Paris, had been held by a French family since 1944 and had never appeared on the art market before.
Drouot auction house in Paris announced this represents the highest price for an artwork in France this year.
Art experts say the painting has been preserved without any restoration or varnishing, with colors remaining vibrant and alive.
Christophe Lucien, the auctioneer, called the sale “a great success” and noted the painting represents part of the love story between Picasso and Dora Maar.
Despite the high sale price, this work falls short of Picasso’s global records. In 2023, “Woman with a Watch” sold for $139 million, while in 2015, “Women of Algiers” fetched $179 million.
The identity of the buyer, who was present in the auction room, was not disclosed.
