An unknown work by Picasso was shown at auction in Paris

The initial estimated value of the canvas - eight million euros, reports phys.org.

The painting was painted in oil on 11 July 1943, at the height of the Second World War. As noted by the representative of the auction house Christophe Lucien, its value "may significantly exceed the declared, given the rarity of the object." The size of the canvas - 80 by 60 cm.

The work has long been kept in a private collection and never previously exhibited - except for Picasso's studio in Paris during the German occupation. Agnès Sevestre-Barb, a specialist in the artist's work, said the find was "exceptional" and important for the history of art.

The painting depicts Dora Maar, a French photographer, painter and poet known as Picasso's main muse in the 1930s and 40s. Her face is melancholy but harmonious, adorned with a brightly coloured floral hat. At this time, Picasso is known to have begun to distance himself from Maar, turning his attention to the young artist Françoise Gilot.

The relationship between Picasso and Maar lasted for nine years and left a noticeable mark on his work. It was Maar who inspired the artist for a series of famous portraits "Weeping Woman" and documented the process of creating "Guernica", photographing every stage of the work. In total, Picasso dedicated about 60 works to her.

After breaking up with Picasso, Maar suffered a severe depression. She became one of the women in the life of the artist, whose fate was tragically formed after the separation: the other two - Maria-Theresa Walter and Jacqueline Rock - later committed suicide.

The sellers of the current painting are the heirs of the original owner, a private collector who bought the canvas in August 1944.

"The colours are wonderfully cheerful, especially for 1943, when Picasso was painting more sombre works," said Olivier Picasso, the artist's grandson. "Dora Maar's portraits are a rarity on the market, especially for sale in France," he added.

Amid a general decline in interest in the art market, Picasso's work is still considered an indicator of its fortunes. In 2024, sales totalled $223 million, three times less than a year earlier. However, works such as "Dora Maar au chat" sold for $95 million and "Femme assise dans un jardin" sold for $49 million.

Picasso's most expensive work, "Algerian Women (Version O)" - was sold in 2015 for a record $179.4 million.