The Letter (La Lettre)
Painting on canvas • Pablo Picasso (in stylistic manner of)
Style & Movement
Surrealism / Early 1930s Picasso Bio-morphic style
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas featuring thick impasto brushwork and bold, expressive contour lines
Creation Period
Circa 1932 (Stylistic period: Marie-Thérèse Walter series)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 60 x 50 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A female figure, likely Marie-Thérèse Walter, is depicted in a moment of intimate reflection, leaning her head on her hand while writing a letter. The composition uses curvilinear forms and a vibrant, saturated palette of greens, purples, and yellows. A small vase with flowers stands in the background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible fine craquelure and slight yellowing of varnish consistent with mid-20th-century aging.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $30,000,000 (Subject to authentication by the Succession Picasso)
Auction Estimate
$20,000,000 - $40,000,000
Provenance History
Private collection; signature located in the lower right corner ('Picasso'). Further verification of the verso for gallery labels or stamps is required for definitive history.
Art Historical Significance
This work corresponds to Picasso's 'annus mirabilis' (1932), a period where he explored his obsession with Marie-Thérèse Walter. The style bridges the gap between Cubism and Surrealism, emphasizing organic, lyrical shapes that convey psychological depth.
Notable Features
The signature is distinctive and stylistically consistent with Picasso's early 1930s script. The heavy impasto in the highlight areas of the face and the vase adds a sculptural quality to the two-dimensional surface.
Condition Issues
Minor surface dirt, slight frame abrasion along the edges, and minor age-related craquelure mainly in the heavier impasto areas.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning by a professional paintings conservator; UV-protective museum glass for the frame; maintain stable environmental conditions (50% RH).