Bust of a Woman (Dora Maar)

Pablo Picasso, 1938

Technical Details

About This Work

Bust of a Woman (Dora Maar) is a compact 1938 oil portrait in which the sitter’s identity is carried through Picasso’s shifting, constructed approach to the head. The format concentrates attention on the face and its layered planes, making the work feel less like a conventional likeness than a deliberately assembled image of a person seen from more than one angle.

Hirshhorn’s direct collection record identifies this 1938 oil on canvas, 46 × 38 cm, as a gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn in 1966. Its documented provenance runs from the artist in Paris through Paul Kantor Gallery and Joseph Hirshhorn before entering the Smithsonian collection. This correction replaces an incorrect Paris location, mismatched public-domain image claim, and unsupported valuation with the holding institution’s record.

Current Location

Valuation & Provenance

Personal Photo — Museo Picasso Málaga

Photographed in person at the Museo Picasso in Málaga, Spain.

Bust of a Woman with Arms Crossed behind her Head

Keywords