A vibrant Picasso portrait of his longtime muse and partner Dora Maar, which has been hidden from public view for more than 80 years, is heading to auction at the prestigious Drouot auction house in Paris. The painting, titled "Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat (Dora Maar)," was created in July 1943 and depicts Maar wearing a brilliantly colored floral hat.

The artwork holds particular significance as it was painted during the final stages of Picasso's seven-year relationship with Maar, an accomplished artist and photographer in her own right. The romantic partnership between the Spanish master and his French muse was coming to a painful end when this portrait was completed. The painting was purchased in 1944 and has remained within the same family collection ever since, never appearing on the art market until now.

The Drouot auction house has described the reappearance of this work, which is part of Picasso's renowned "Woman in a Hat" series, as "a moment of rare significance, revealing for the first time the full radiance of a work long kept secret." The painting's emergence has generated considerable excitement in the international art world due to its exceptional preservation and historical importance.

During a preview event this week, Picasso specialist Agnes Sevestre-Barbé expressed amazement at the portrait's remarkable condition and vivid appearance. "We have a painting that is exactly as it was when it left the studio," she explained. "It wasn't varnished, which means we have all its raw material, all of it. It's a painting where you can feel all the colors, the entire chromatic range."

Sevestre-Barbé emphasized the painting's immediate visual impact and artistic significance. "It's a painting that speaks for itself," she added. "You just have to look at it – it's full of expression, and you can see all of Picasso's genius." The expert noted that previously, the work had only been documented in a black-and-white photograph, which failed to capture the painting's extraordinary use of color. "We couldn't imagine from this photo that this painting was so colorful, so amazing, really," she observed.

Auctioneer Christophe Lucien reported that the painting has attracted significant international attention from collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide. "It's being talked about in all the world capitals with a strong art market, from the United States to Asia, and of course through all the major European markets," he stated. However, Lucien declined to provide an estimate for the painting's expected sale price, suggesting that the final bidding could reach extraordinary levels given the work's rarity and provenance.

The auction represents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a major work by Picasso that has been completely removed from public circulation for decades. The painting's combination of historical significance, exceptional preservation, and connection to one of Picasso's most important relationships makes it one of the most anticipated art sales of the year.