The Weeping Woman (Femme en pleurs)
Painting on canvas • Pablo Picasso
Style & Movement
Cubism / Surrealism (Post-Guernica period)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing bold impasto, sharp black outlines, and flattened color planes characteristic of late Cubism.
Creation Period
1937
Dimensions & Format
60.8 cm × 50 cm (23.9 in × 19.7 in); Vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
The painting depicts a woman's face distorted by grief, clutching a crumpled handkerchief to her face. It is a portrait of Dora Maar, Picasso's mistress and collaborator. The fractured composition, acidic palette (yellows, greens, and purples), and jagged lines serve as a universal symbol of human suffering and a visceral response to the Spanish Civil War.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent. The painting is part of a museum collection and has been well-preserved with stable paint layers.
Estimated Market Value
$100,000,000 - $150,000,000+ (based on its status as a seminal 20th-century masterpiece).
Auction Estimate
$120,000,000 - $160,000,000
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of Roland Penrose; acquired by the Tate Modern, London, in 1987 with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund.
Art Historical Significance
One of the most iconic images of 20th-century art, it serves as the thematic 'postscript' to Picasso's 'Guernica'. It represents the culmination of his 'Weeping Woman' series and is a profound statement on the psychological effects of war and political upheaval.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature 'Picasso 37' on the right side. Distinguishable by the intense, contrasting colors and the visceral depiction of the handkerchief, which appears almost like glass shards or shrapnel.
Condition Issues
Minor historical craquelure consistent with age; surface dirt is professionally managed by institutional conservation.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled climate conditions (50% RH, 20°C) and UV-filtered lighting. Periodic surface cleaning by a qualified conservator is recommended.