A large work by the painter Pablo Picasso, depicting a man known as Musa and his mistress Marie-Therese Walter, is offered for sale today (Monday) for the first time. The piece is expected to go on sale next month, at a record price of over $ 60 million from Sotheby's.
The relationship between Picasso and model Marie-Therese Walter began in 1928 when she was 17.
The relationship lasted for several years during which they had a daughter.
Picasso admired Marie-Therese's abilities in sports and against this background he painted in 1932 the portrait now offered for sale, in which his beloved is seen swimming (Picasso could not swim, e.g.) in the shape of an octopus.
Her chest is the octopus' eyes and her head is between the creature's legs.
Helena Newman, director of tenders around the world and head of the field of Impressionist and modern art, at Sotheby's noted that: "This is an exceptionally groundbreaking and sensual work."
Brock Lampley, chair of global art sales at Sotheby's, also added that the work is: "A radical departure from tradition, this impressive painting is the artist's deep artistic and lyrical connection to Marie-Theresa, his great passion for it.
There are here its organs as fin-like and as infinitely flexible.
It is a charming portrait that perfectly captures Picasso's muse and his ultimate genius. "
Pablo Picasso, Photo: Express / Getty Images
It should be noted that the painting in question provoked many discussions for many years about the connection between Marie-Theresa and Picasso around the question of what did the artist mean by this unusual painting?
Was it a private joke between the renowned artist and his mistress or is there an expression here of a latent apprehension that Picasso felt in the face of his immense love for his artistic muse that literally envelops his entire life?
It is important to note that Marie-Therese, was an important muse of the artist and many of her paintings constitute the pinnacle of his work and one of the most enlightening and special periods in his life.
Sotheby’s notes that the painting was sold by an anonymous seller in 2006 to Picasso’s descendants, after the large painting was held for years in the artist’s estate.
The starting price of the piece is $ 55 million, another painting by the artist shown at Sotheby’s last year with such an opening price, sold for $ 103.41 million.
Either way, the relationship between Marie-Theres Walter and the artist ended when Picasso met in 1936 Dora Marr, a French photographer, who became his next mistress.
According to the denied legend, the two women met where Picasso painted his paintings and the painter who was unwilling to decide between the two told them to quarrel over him and whoever won would stay with him.
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