The Weeping Woman (Femme en pleurs)
Painting on canvas • Pablo Picasso
Style & Movement
Cubism / Surrealism / Synthetic Cubism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, featuring heavy impasto, bold black contouring, and fragmented geometric planes.
Creation Period
1937
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 60 x 49 cm (23 5/8 x 19 1/4 in). Vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
A portrait of Dora Maar depicted in a state of extreme grief, biting a handkerchief. The face is fragmented into multiple perspectives with acidic greens and yellows contrasting against sharp blues and reds, symbolizing the collective suffering of the Spanish Civil War.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (original in gallery collection); based on visual evidence, the surface shows stable craquelure consistent with age.
Estimated Market Value
$120,000,000 - $180,000,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$100,000,000 - $150,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of Roland Penrose; acquired by the Tate Gallery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and public appeal in 1987.
Art Historical Significance
A seminal work of 20th-century art, serving as a 'postscript' to Guernica. It represents the height of Picasso's political engagement and his complex relationship with Dora Maar, functioning as a universal icon of human sorrow.
Notable Features
Signature 'Picasso 37' visible on the right center. Use of jagged, 'broken' lines to denote psychological distress and the iconic blue-white handkerchief motif used as a focal point for the subject's agony.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure; some slight yellowing of varnish layers over time; potential frame abrasion at the extreme edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled UV lighting, stable relative humidity (45-55%), and high-security museum-grade glazing. Periodic professional inspection for paint layer stability is advised.