Late next week, Gagosian will open another John Richardson-curated show (this time with Diana Widmaier Picasso) called L’Amour Fou: Picasso and Marie-Thérèse. It won’t be the first time attention has been paid to this period in Picasso’s work but the show comes amidst a vogue for Marie-Thérèse pictures.
Katya Kazakina announces the Picasso that will lead Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern sale this May in New York. At between $25 and $35m, Femmes Lisant picks up on the theme of the record-setting Brody work of last year. Kazakina spoke to Michael Findlay of Acquavella who organized his own Marie-Thérèse show three years ago:
“Femmes Lisant,” with its vibrant palette and at least one sexual innuendo, was consigned by an anonymous private collector who bought it in 1981 from the Pace Gallery in New York. It had originally come from the Picasso estate. […]
The Marie-Therese period hasn’t always been considered Picasso’s finest hour, said Findlay. This changed after “Le Reve,” a sensual, richly colored 1932 portrait of a sleeping Marie-Therese, hit the auction block as part of the collection of Victor and Sally Ganz in 1997. It sold for $48 million.
“Everyone wanted to buy the ‘The Dream,’” said Findlay. “It was a standout among the new generation of collectors,” including Francois Pinault, Bernard Arnault, Steven A. Cohen and Stephen A. Wynn, who currently owns the work.
Hot Market in Picasso Teen Mistress May See $35 Million Sale at Sotheby’s (Bloomberg)