Pablo Picasso’s love Dora Maar
1941 painting by Pablo Picasso “Dora Maar with Cat” is one of the world’s most expensive paintings. In fact, the canvas was one of many portraits of Dora Maar painted by Pablo Picasso over their nearly decade-long relationship. Picasso fell in love with the 29-year old Maar at the age of 55 and soon began living with her. Meanwhile, it came up for sale at an auction of Impressionist/Modern works held at Sotheby’s on May 3, 2006 in New York. Noteworthy, the portrait became the second-highest price ever paid for a painting at auction. An anonymous Russian bidder presented at the New York auction won the work with a final bid of US$95,216,000.

Born on November 22, 1907, Henriette Theodora Markovitch, Dora Maar died July 16, 1997. French photographer, poet and painter, however, best known for being a lover and muse of Pablo Picasso.

Their partnership had been one of intellectual exchange and intense passion. Dora was an artist, spoke Picasso’s native Spanish, and shared his political concerns.

She even assisted with the execution of the monumental Guernica and produced the only photo-documentary of the work in progress. An intellectual force – a characteristic that both stimulated and challenged Picasso. In fact, her influence on him resulted in some of his most powerful and daring portraits of his 75-year career.

Maar was one of the most influential figures in Picasso’s life during their relationship and she also became his primary model.

Pablo Picasso’s love Dora Maar

www.croatia.org