Pablo Picasso's 1932 painting "Femme a la Montre" is displayed at an auction at Sotheby's, in New York City, U.S., November 8, 2023.
REUTERS/Ben Kellerman Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Pablo Picasso’s 1932 painting “Femme à la montre” sold for more than $139 million on Wednesday at a Sotheby’s New York auction, making it the most valuable work of art sold globally at an auction this year.
“Femme à la montre,” which translates from French to “Woman with a Watch,” is a portrait of the artist’s lover Marie-Thérèse Walter seated in a throne-like chair against a blue background.
Walter became his subject for a number of artworks, including the 1932 painting "Femme nue couchée," which sold for $67.5 million at auction in 2022.
Picasso painted “Femme à la montre” at a pivotal year in his career.
Persons:
Pablo Picasso's, Ben Kellerman, Pablo Picasso’s, ”, Emily Fisher Landau, “, Marie, Thérèse Walter, Picasso, Olga Khokhlova, Walter, Khokhlova, Fisher Landau, Rod Nickel
Organizations:
REUTERS, Tate, York’s Pace, Thomson
Locations:
Sotheby's, New York City, U.S, New York, York, Christie’s, Ukrainian, Paris, Manhattan