What Happened?
Art history just added a new page: a lost sketch by Pablo Picasso, dated 1939, has been discovered in an attic of a Paris apartment that once belonged to a book collector.
The drawing, titled “Femme au Chat” (Woman with a Cat), shows early elements of Picasso’s surrealist style, blending tenderness and chaos in a single image.
Experts from the Musee Picasso Paris confirmed the authenticity after months of examination — and the discovery is already being called one of the most important Picasso finds of the last decade .
The drawing, titled “Femme au Chat” (Woman with a Cat), shows early elements of Picasso’s surrealist style, blending tenderness and chaos in a single image.
Experts from the Musee Picasso Paris confirmed the authenticity after months of examination — and the discovery is already being called one of the most important Picasso finds of the last decade .
?? How It Was Found
The sketch was found accidentally during renovation. The homeowner, who inherited the apartment from his grandfather, discovered a dusty portfolio hidden inside a false wall.
Inside — several documents and a single folded sheet of paper signed “Picasso 1939”.
Conservators say the condition is surprisingly good, and the museum plans to restore and exhibit it publicly in spring 2026.
Inside — several documents and a single folded sheet of paper signed “Picasso 1939”.
Conservators say the condition is surprisingly good, and the museum plans to restore and exhibit it publicly in spring 2026.
What Experts Say
• “This sketch bridges a crucial gap in Picasso’s creative timeline — right before the Guernica years fully evolved into abstraction,” said curator Helene Moreau from Musee Picasso.
• “It’s intimate, spontaneous, and deeply human — you feel the pulse of the artist,” added Parisian art critic Jean-Louis Lemaitre.
• “It’s intimate, spontaneous, and deeply human — you feel the pulse of the artist,” added Parisian art critic Jean-Louis Lemaitre.
What’s Next
The piece is now under museum care, awaiting restoration and insurance appraisal. Early estimates suggest the sketch could be worth up to $7 million, though experts say its historical and emotional value is beyond price .
The museum plans to include it in an upcoming exhibition “Picasso Rediscovered”, which will explore hidden and forgotten works from private collections.
The museum plans to include it in an upcoming exhibition “Picasso Rediscovered”, which will explore hidden and forgotten works from private collections.
Editorial Opinion (our view)
Our editorial team believes this discovery reminds us that great art never truly disappears — it simply waits to be found again.
Picasso’s legacy continues to grow not through auctions, but through rediscovery — proof that art is a living dialogue across time.
And let’s be honest — there’s something beautifully poetic about finding genius tucked between dust and memory .
Picasso’s legacy continues to grow not through auctions, but through rediscovery — proof that art is a living dialogue across time.
And let’s be honest — there’s something beautifully poetic about finding genius tucked between dust and memory .
Why This News Is Important
• Adds a new work to Picasso’s known portfolio after decades of uncertainty.
• Highlights how chance and history intertwine in art preservation.
• Reminds collectors to look twice before cleaning old attics .
• Highlights how chance and history intertwine in art preservation.
• Reminds collectors to look twice before cleaning old attics .
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