Executed at the height of Pablo Picasso’s relationship with his partner, fellow artist and mother of his children Françoise Gilot, Buste de femme is an emblematic portrait of one of the most iconic figures in his life. Executed on March 24th, 1949, the present work belongs to a celebrated yet limited group of portraits Picasso created over the course of a year depicting Gilot in labyrinthine contours and rich jewel tones.
Known as Picasso’s “Favorite American Collector,” Neumann was a personal friend of the artist, acquiring exceptional paintings, works on paper and sculpture from Picasso and his contemporaries during their lifetimes. In 1980-81, Buste de femme was exhibited amongst other masterworks from Neumann Family Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C
Buse de femme by Pablo Picasso will take place at the Modern Evening Auction, presented in partnership in Samsung, on 18 November in New York.
