Tête de femme (Dora Maar)
Painting on canvas • Pablo Picasso
Style & Movement
Cubism (Late Surrealist-influenced Cubism)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing hard-edged cubist fracturing and flat planes of color with limited brushwork texture.
Creation Period
March 3, 1940
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 70 x 50 cm, Portrait format
Subject Description
A deconstructed, geometric portrait of Dora Maar. The composition features a dual perspective (simultaneous profile and frontal view) with a sharp, diamond-shaped nose and stylized facial features against a flat blue background. The neck and shoulders are reduced to a conical, monumental form.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (assuming visual representation from source); however, digital images can mask flattening or craquelure.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $25,000,000 (if authenticated original oil); $2,000 - $10,000 (if authorized lithograph)
Auction Estimate
$12,000,000 - $20,000,000 (for original oil)
Provenance History
The original work remained in the artist's estate and later passed into private and museum collections. Numerous authorized high-quality lithographs and after-prints exist; authenticating the physical support is required to confirm it is the unique 1940 oil.
Art Historical Significance
Representing Picasso's preoccupation with his muse Dora Maar during the early years of WWII, this work demonstrates the height of his geometric deconstruction and the psychological tension reflected in his distorted subjects during the Nazi occupation of Paris.
Notable Features
Includes the conspicuous date '3.3.40.' inscribed in the mid-right field, a characteristic trait of Picasso's meticulous cataloging of his daily output.
Condition Issues
Possible surface dirt and minor yellowing of the white pigments; digital image shows potential cropping or frame pressure at edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning by a qualified conservator if verified as oil; UV-protective glazing and climate control (18-21°C, 50% humidity).
Collector Notes
Picasso cubist Woman’s head