The Magic of Picasso – The Artist’s Radiant Portrait of Marie-Thérèse Walter from 1934 Auctioned for $42,960,000

The year 1934 was a tumultuous one for Picasso. His personal life was in a state of upheaval during a time of growing global conflicts (his native Spain was on the brink of civil war, fascism was spreading throughout Europe, and the Great Depression was causing a protracted economic downturn). His wife, Olga Khokhlová, refused to grant him a divorce and their relationship turned acrimonious. Many of his works from this period reflect his tormented state of mind.

In the midst of this turmoil, however, Picasso produced three spectacular portraits of his infamous muse Marie-Thérèse Walter during a single day in July 1934. Initially, Marie-Thérèse appeared in his work only through veiled allusions, but as their affair blossomed, she became omnipresent. Thanks to her Grecian profile, cropped blond hair, and slender figure, she was easily identifiable and an infinite source of inspiration for the artist. Picasso filled his canvases with images of her, sculpted her face in plaster, and captured his passion for her in countless sketches and prints.

In this particular portrait, Picasso uses bright summer light to draw Marie-Thérèse in vibrant, bold colors. She is depicted at rest, with her head tilted back and arms crossed atop a pillow; her body is relaxed in deep sleep. With her curves taking up most of the canvas, Picasso has rendered an intensely personal and intimate painting of his lover.

This portrait, created on one unusual July day just before Picasso’s extended hiatus from painting in 1935, represents a brief moment of unadulterated joy.