Dora Maar

Dora Maar (Henriette Theodora Markovitch), Paris (vente de son atelier : Piasa, Paris, 26 novembre 1998, L'Atelier de Dora Maar, lot 97, reproduit sur la couverture du catalogue)
Acquis lors de cette vente par le propriétaire actuel

Mary Ann Caws, Dora Maar with & without Picasso, a biography, Londres, 2000, reproduit p. 118

The canvas is not lined. There is a network of thin stable craquelures visible in the catalogue illustration. A few small areas of retouching, mostly scattered in the white area along the left edge, towards the bottom right corner and an intermittent line towards the top right corner. Overall this work is in good stable condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

signed 'Dora Maar' and dated '1936' (lower right), oil on canvas. Painted in 1936.

Fig. 1  Pablo Picasso, Portrait de femme, 1937, huile et pastel sur toile, Musée Picasso, Paris

Cet intense portrait de Picasso par Dora Maar porte la date de leur rencontre : 1936. Au début de cette année, Picasso est, avec Matisse, le peintre le plus célèbre du monde mais il ne peint plus depuis mai 1935, notamment en raison de son mariage désastreux avec Olga. Dora Maar est une des photographes les plus en vue, très proche du groupe surréaliste, travaillant également pour le cinéma. C'est une femme belle et intelligente, ancienne maîtresse de Georges Bataille

La fascination mutuelle qu'éprouvent ces deux fortes personnalités est immédiate. Dora Maar initiera Picasso à la photographie tandis que celui-ci l'incite et lui apprend à confronter ses talents de plasticienne à l'art pictural. Ce portrait de Picasso est très certainement le meilleur tableau jamais peint par Dora Maar : Picasso y est représenté tel un dieu Maya, le visage animé d'un sourire à la fois tranquille et carnassier, l'œil placide fixant obsessionnellement le spectateur, typique des portraits photographiques de l'époque. Ce tableau emblèmatique d'une des relations artistiques les plus fortes de l'histoire de la peinture au XXe siècle, figurait en couverture d'un des catalogues de la vente Dora Maar de 1998.  

Fig. 2  Picasso et Dora Maar à Antibes, photographiés par Man Ray en 1937

 

This intense portrait of Picasso by Dora Maar is dated the year that they met: 1936.  At the beginning of this year, Picasso was, along with Matisse, the most famous painter in the world, however he had not painted since May 1935, notably because of his disastrous marriage to Olga.  Dora Maar was one of the most well known photographers of the time, working closely with the Surrealists and also in the cinema.  She was a beautiful, intelligent woman and formerly the mistress of Georges Bataille.

The two strong personalities felt an immediate mutual fascination.  Dora Maar introduced Picasso to photography while he encouraged her to apply her talents as a visual artist to painting.  This portrait of Picasso is without a doubt the finest picture ever painted by Dora Maar: Picasso is depicted as a Mayan god, his face animated by a smile that is both quiet and menacing, the placid eye fixatedly staring at the viewer, in a manner that is typical of the photographic portraits of the time.  Emblematic of one of the most powerful artistic couplings in the history of 20^th Century painting, this picture featured on the cover of one of the Dora Maar sales in 1998.