FREITAG, 24. OKTOBER 2025 
€32 Million - Highest Price of the Year in France For the Rediscovered Picasso Masterpiece
A historic moment unfolded today at the Hôtel Drouot. Buste de femme au chapeau à fleurs (Dora Maar), a 1943 masterpiece by Pablo Picasso that had remained hidden from public view for more than 80 years, soared to €32,012,397, achieving the highest auction price of the year in France and the second-highest price ever for the artist in the country.The French record – set in 1989 by Les Noces de Pierrette – was also achieved at Drouot.
Presented by the auction house Lucien Paris, this major work, which had remained in the same family since its acquisition in 1944, was previously known only through a photograph by Brassaï and a black-and-white reproduction in Christian Zervos’s catalogue raisonné. Its rediscovery and appearance at auction sparked international excitement, drawing collectors, institutions, and dealers from around the world.
A Landmark Rediscovery
The painting, portraying Dora Maar - Picasso’s muse and companion - at the twilight of their relationship, belongs to the celebrated series of Women with Hats. A poignant testament to Picasso’s creative force in wartime, it captures the emotional intensity of his art during one of the most turbulent periods of his life.
No fewer than 18 bidders from Europe, Asia and the United States competed for this moving portrait. After an intense 35-minute bidding battle, an international collector in the room secured the final hammer bid, to the applause of a captivated audience.
No fewer than 18 bidders from Europe, Asia and the United States competed for this moving portrait. After an intense 35-minute bidding battle, an international collector in the room secured the final hammer bid, to the applause of a captivated audience.
A Triumph for the French Art Market
With this result, Drouot reaffirms its position on the international stage, underscoring its central role in the French market and its enduring influence beyond national borders. This success also marks a milestone for Lucien Paris, which signs here one of the most remarkable sales in its history.
“To rediscover such a work, in all its authenticity and intensity, and to see it take flight under the hammer at Drouot, is a rare privilege and a moment of pure grace for any auctioneer – and for all art lovers” said Christophe Lucien, who conducted the sale.
For Agnès Sevestre-Barbé, the sale’s expert, “this is a well-deserved result for what I consider a true Mona Lisa of the 20th century. The international bidding confirmed the universal appeal of the work – and I am delighted that this sale took place at the Hôtel Drouot. It shows that Paris remains an essential destination for the art market.”
Olivier Lange, Chief Executive Officer of the Drouot Group, added: “Since 1852, the Hôtel Drouot has been the place where the most beautiful pages of the art market are written. This sale is a new illustration of that legacy, and it highlights the renewed trust of auctioneers whose commitment ensures the vitality and prestige of this unique institution.”
“To rediscover such a work, in all its authenticity and intensity, and to see it take flight under the hammer at Drouot, is a rare privilege and a moment of pure grace for any auctioneer – and for all art lovers” said Christophe Lucien, who conducted the sale.
For Agnès Sevestre-Barbé, the sale’s expert, “this is a well-deserved result for what I consider a true Mona Lisa of the 20th century. The international bidding confirmed the universal appeal of the work – and I am delighted that this sale took place at the Hôtel Drouot. It shows that Paris remains an essential destination for the art market.”
Olivier Lange, Chief Executive Officer of the Drouot Group, added: “Since 1852, the Hôtel Drouot has been the place where the most beautiful pages of the art market are written. This sale is a new illustration of that legacy, and it highlights the renewed trust of auctioneers whose commitment ensures the vitality and prestige of this unique institution.”
A Landmark in Picasso’s Story
Through its emotional power, provenance and remarkable history, Buste de femme au chapeau à fleurs (Dora Maar) stands as one of the most significant rediscoveries in Picasso’s oeuvre. Its extraordinary journey has now become part of Picasso’s legend.
Download the English version of the press release
Download the English version of the press release
