A previously unseen painting by Pablo Picasso depicting his former lover and muse Dora Maar has been revealed to the public for the first time in eight decades. The artwork, titled "Bust of a Woman in a Flowery Hat (Dora Maar)," was completed in July 1943 during the German occupation of Paris and represents a significant discovery in the art world.

The oil painting, measuring 80cm by 60cm, shows Maar in what experts describe as a softer, more colorful portrayal compared to Picasso's previous depictions of his then-lover. The work was finished near the end of their turbulent nine-year relationship, during one of the darkest periods of World War II. Despite the gentler treatment, Maar's face appears fragmented and painted in bright colors without perspective, showing signs of anguish and seeming on the verge of tears.

Picasso created numerous portraits of Maar throughout their relationship, including the famous "Portrait of Dora Maar" and "Dora Maar au Chat." However, Maar herself was critical of these works, famously stating: "All of his portraits of me are lies. They're all Picassos. Not one is Dora Maar." The couple first met in late 1935 when Maar was working as a photographer, taking promotional photos for Jean Renoir's film "The Crime of Monsieur Lange."

Their relationship was notoriously complex and often violent. Picasso was simultaneously involved with Marie-Thérèse Walter, with whom he had a daughter named Maya, throughout his years with Maar. He frequently portrayed Maar, whose masochistic tendencies fascinated him, as a tortured figure often depicted in tears, as seen in "La Femme qui pleure" (Weeping Woman). Art experts believe these representations were intended to symbolize the suffering of the Spanish Civil War, but they also reflected Picasso's alleged abuse of Maar and the couple's many physical confrontations.

The timing of this particular portrait is significant, as it was completed when Maar had discovered that Picasso, then 61 years old, planned to leave her for the young artist Françoise Gilot, who was only 21. This personal turmoil is reflected in the emotional intensity of the work, which shows Maar's characteristic fragmented features rendered in unusually bright, hopeful colors despite her evident distress.

After its completion, the painting was displayed only a handful of times outside Picasso's Paris studio located on Rue des Grands Augustins. It was sold to a private collector in August 1944, just months before the liberation of Paris, and has remained hidden from public view ever since. The work's existence was only known through a black and white photograph taken shortly before its sale, which appeared in an art catalog.

During the German occupation, the Nazis considered Picasso's work "degenerate art," leading to raids on his studio and threats to ban exhibitions of his paintings. Despite these challenges, Picasso continued to create, with works like this portrait serving as what experts call "much-needed light during the dark days of the occupation."

Dora Maar, who died in Paris in 1997 at age 89, was much more than just Picasso's muse and lover. She was an accomplished surrealist photographer in her own right, and her artistic style significantly influenced Picasso's work throughout their relationship. Her contributions to the surrealist movement and her independent artistic achievements have gained greater recognition in recent decades.

The painting is now being offered by the Parisian auction house Lucien Paris, which kept its existence secret before unveiling it to the press on Thursday. The current owner, who inherited the work from a grandparent described only as an unnamed French collector, has chosen to remain anonymous. Auctioneer Christophe Lucien described the discovery as significant, calling the work "a masterpiece and a rare example" of Picasso's wartime output.

"It is not only a milestone in the history of art but also in the private life of Picasso," Lucien explained. "It is a refreshing portrait of Dora Maar; exceptional and full of emotion. Discovering it is a big moment in our lives as experts." He noted that while experts knew the painting existed from the archival photographs, this marks the first time the true colors and full impact of the work can be appreciated.

The auction house has conservatively estimated the painting's value at approximately 8 million euros (6.9 million pounds), though experts expect it to sell for significantly more given its rarity and historical importance. The painting will be displayed for public viewing for three days before going up for auction on October 24, giving art enthusiasts and scholars a rare opportunity to see this long-lost masterpiece in person.