Marcus Chen
Dora Maar au Chat (English: Dora Maar with Cat) is an oil-on-canvas painting by Pablo Picasso. It was painted in 1941 during World War II and depicts Dora Maar, Picasso's lover and artistic companion, seated on a chair with a small cat perched on her shoulders. The painting is one of the most expensive paintings in the world, selling for $95 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2006. The painting is remarkable for its use of colour, attention to detail, and symbolism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Pablo Picasso |
| Year | 1941 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Subject | Dora Maar, Picasso's lover and mistress |
| Size | 128.3 cm x 95.3 cm (50.5" x 37.5") |
| Sale price | $95,216,000 |
| Sale date | 3 May 2006 |
| Auction house | Sotheby's |
| Style | Cubist |
| Symbolism | The hat signifies Maar's involvement in the Surrealist movement; the cat reflects the traditional pairing of cats and women in art, suggesting female cunning and sexual aggression; the long fingernails resemble talons and further emphasize this theme |
| Composition | Three-quarter-length portrait of Maar seated in a chair with a small black cat perched on her shoulders; the background is simple, featuring inclined wooden floorboards and a shallow interior space |
| Colours | Vibrant palette used for the chair and the patterning of Maar's dress |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's subject, Dora Maar
Dora Maar, born Henriette Theodora Markovitch, was a French photographer and painter. She was a pioneering Surrealist artist and an anti-fascist activist. Her work ranged from commercial assignments in fashion and advertising to documenting social and economic struggles during the Depression, and explored Surrealist themes. She was also a set photographer for Jean Renoir's film 'Le Crime de Monsieur Lange', where she first met Pablo Picasso.
Maar was Picasso's lover, muse and model for almost a decade. She was 29 when they met, while he was 55. Their relationship was one of scholarly exchange and intense devotion. Dora was an artist who spoke Picasso's native Spanish and shared his political concerns. She influenced him to paint his first anti-war painting, 'Guernica', in 1937.
Maar was the subject of many of Picasso's paintings, including 'Dora Maar au Chat' ('Dora Maar with Cat'), which he painted in 1941, at the beginning of World War II. The painting depicts Maar seated in a chair with a small cat perched on her shoulders. It is one of the largest portraits of Maar by Picasso and is remarkable for its brilliant colour and the complex, dense patterning of the model's dress. The painting also stands out for its three-quarter-length pose, rather than a simple headshot.
The painting is rich in symbolism. The cat is said to symbolise the feminine sexual values of Picasso's mistress and is a reflection of the traditional pairing of cats and women in art, suggesting female cunning and sexual aggression. Maar's long fingernails, depicted as long talons, further emphasise this. The hat that she wears is also significant, signifying her involvement in the Surrealist movement and resembling a crown. The background, though simple, is interestingly composed, with vertically inclined planes of wooden floorboards contrasting with a shallow inner space, reminiscent of Picasso's early Cubist style.
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The painting's high sale price
The high sale price of Dora Maar au Chat can be attributed to several factors, including its artistic merit, its place in art history, and the context of its creation. The painting is a testament to the decade-long relationship between Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar, his muse, model, and lover. It is one of the largest portraits of Maar by Picasso and stands out from his other portraits due to its three-quarter body pose, showcasing not just her face but also her attire. This shift in composition allowed Picasso to explore a different range of qualities and frustrations in his portrayal of Maar.
The painting is also significant for its artistic qualities, including its brilliant colours, attention to detail, and the complex and dense patterning of Maar's dress. The faceted planes of her body and the richly layered surface of brushstrokes impart a sculptural quality to the portrait. The painting is a testament to Picasso's mastery of the Cubist style, with its manipulation of space and form, particularly in the contrast between the vertically inclined planes of the wooden floorboards and the shallow inner space. This use of geometric forms and angles is characteristic of Picasso's exploration of space in a Cubist manner, adding to the painting's artistic value.
The context in which Dora Maar au Chat was created also contributes to its significance and, by extension, its high sale price. It was painted in 1941, at the beginning of World War II, during a tumultuous period in Picasso and Maar's relationship. The tension between them, as well as the broader tensions of German-occupied France, are reflected in the abstract style of the portrait. The inclusion of the cat perched on Maar's shoulders is particularly noteworthy, as it symbolises feminine cunning and sexual aggression, further adding to the complexity and intrigue of the painting.
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The painting's owner(s)
The painting "Dora Maar au Chat" by Pablo Picasso was initially purchased in the 1940s by two art collectors from Chicago, Lee and Mary Block. The painting was then sold on by Leigh and Mary Block in 1963. It was not displayed publicly until the turn of the 21st century.
In 2006, the painting was sold at auction for $95,216,000, making it the sixth-highest-selling painting by Picasso. The final bid came from an anonymous Russian buyer, who also purchased a Monet seascape and a Marc Chagall original. The buyer likely bid on behalf of someone else, but no link has ever been established. The painting is currently part of a private collection.
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The painting's artistic style
The artistic style of Dora Maar au Chat is considered to be Cubist. The painting is characterised by vertically inclined planes, as depicted in the wooden floorboards, and a shallow inner space, reminiscent of Picasso's early work with space manipulation in a Cubist manner. Dora Maar's three-dimensional torso and the faceted planes of her body also contribute to the sculptural quality of the painting.
The painting is also notable for its vibrant colours and attention to detail, particularly in the rendering of the angles of the chair and the complex, dense patterning of the model's dress. The use of concentric lines and dots and stripes of varying types to create the image of Dora and the chair she sits on is indicative of Picasso's artistic style.
The inclusion of the hat in the painting is significant, as it signifies Dora Maar's involvement in the Surrealist movement. The hat is ornate, embellished with colourful feathers and a red trim, resembling a crown. The cat perched on Dora Maar's shoulders is also symbolic, reflecting traditional pairings of cats and women in art, suggesting female cunning and sexual aggression. The long fingernails depicted in the painting have been interpreted as possessing a certain violence, like a cat's claws.
The background of the painting is simple, with wooden floorboards and a shallow interior space, yet Picasso's Cubist approach adds interest to this otherwise plain setting. The overall composition of the painting is ingenious, with a regal, almost pagan goddess-like, pose of the model, and a dramatic yet straightforward setting.
Dora Maar au Chat is considered one of Picasso's most valued and brilliant depictions of his lover and artistic companion. The painting stands out from his other portraits due to its three-quarter body pose and the unique combination of colours, details, and symbolism.
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The painting's symbolism
Dora Maar au Chat (English: Dora Maar with Cat) is an oil-on-canvas painting by Pablo Picasso. It was painted in 1941 and depicts Dora Maar, Picasso's lover, seated on a chair with a small cat perched on her shoulders. The painting is one of the most expensive paintings in the world, selling for $95 million at Sotheby's on 3 May 2006.
The painting is rich in symbolism, reflecting the intense yet fragile nature of Picasso's relationship with Dora Maar. The cat on Maar's shoulder is particularly significant, reflecting the traditional pairing of cats and women in art, which was often used to suggest female cunning and sexual aggression. The long manicured fingernails depicted in the portrait, which resemble a cat's claws, further emphasise this theme. The cat also symbolises the feminine sexual values of Picasso's mistress, as interpreted by various art critics.
Maar's hat is another notable element of the painting. The ornate hat, embellished with colourful feathers and a red trim, signifies her involvement in the Surrealist movement and was an accessory for which she was well-known. Picasso placed the hat on Maar's head like a crown, enhancing the regal quality of her pose. The presence of the subject is pronounced, reflecting the way a queen would sit on her throne.
The faceted planes of Maar's body and the richly layered brushstrokes contribute to the sculptural quality of the portrait. The brilliant colours and complex patterning of the model's dress further enhance the painting's overall effect. The setting, composed of inclined wooden floorboards and a shallow interior space, is reminiscent of Picasso's early experiments with space manipulation in his Cubist works.
Dora Maar au Chat stands out from Picasso's other portraits of Maar, such as The Weeping Woman, due to its three-quarter-length pose, which allows for a more comprehensive portrayal of the subject. The painting also captures the tension between Maar and Picasso, which increased due to the occupation of France by Nazi Germany during the creation of the artwork.
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Frequently asked questions
Dora Maar au Chat, or Dora Maar with Cat, is an oil-on-canvas painting by Pablo Picasso. It was painted in 1941 and depicts Dora Maar, Picasso's lover, seated on a chair with a small cat perched on her shoulders.
The cat is said to symbolise the feminine sexual values of Picasso's mistress and is the main focal point of the painting. The presence of the cat on her shoulder also reflects the traditional pairing of cats and women in art, which was used to suggest female cunning and sexual aggression.
The hat is a reference to Dora Maar's involvement in the Surrealist movement. It is ornate and embellished with colourful feathers and a red trim, resembling a crown. The size of the hat also adds to the symbolism, making Dora Maar look larger than life, like a pagan goddess.
