Hidden Portrait of Woman Discovered Beneath Picasso's Blue Period Painting

Advanced imaging reveals a concealed portrait under 'Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto,' offering new insights into Picasso's early artistic evolution.

• Infrared and X-ray imaging uncovered a hidden portrait of a woman beneath Picasso's 1901 painting 'Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto.'
• The woman, depicted with a chignon hairstyle, resembles other figures Picasso painted during his early Paris years, though her identity remains unknown.
• Experts believe Picasso painted over the original portrait as he transitioned to his Blue Period, marked by somber tones and emotional depth following personal tragedy.
• The discovery highlights Picasso's practice of reusing canvases, often transforming one image into another without erasing the original entirely.
• The painting will be featured in the Courtauld Gallery's upcoming exhibition, 'Goya to Impressionism,' opening February 14 in London.

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