ONCE HIDDEN PICASSO PAINTING OF DORA SELLS AT AUCTION FOR NEARLY $40 MILLION
Lucien Paris sold a recently uncovered Pablo Picasso painting of Dora Maar for €32.01 million (about $37.15 million) on October 24, 2025. The Parisian auction house's initial estimate of €8 million (about $9.45 million) was nearly quadrupled by the final price tag.
The work, titled Buste de woman au chapeau à fleurs (Dora Maar), is one of several that include the same name of Dora Maar, a French-Croatian painter and photographer who was Picasso's nine-year lover. The picture was first finished by the artist in 1943, and a collector promptly bought it in 1944. Buste de femme had been kept out of the public eye and kept in that private collection for over 80 years before to last month's auction. Only a black-and-white photo published in the Cahiers d'art art publication, taken just before it was sold, initially revealed its existence. It is also believed that Brassaï took pictures of the work in late April or early May 1944.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, auctioneer Christophe Lucien stated, "It is not only a milestone in the history of art, but also in the private life of Picasso." It's a novel, remarkable, and passionate portrayal of Dora Maar. As specialists, learning about it is a significant turning point in our lives.
For the first time in almost a century, Buste de femme was on display for the public to view in the days preceding the auction, which took place at the Hôtel Drouot in Paris. Before an international collector in the room placed the winning bid of €32.01 million, some 18 bidders from Europe, Asia, and the US fought for the painting during the actual auction.