Art historians have made a remarkable discovery while studying a painting by the legendary artist Pablo Picasso. Beneath the surface of one of his works, Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto, they uncovered a mysterious portrait of a woman that had been hidden for over a century. This revelation was made possible by advanced imaging techniques, including infrared and X-ray technology, which allowed researchers at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London to peer through the layers of paint and uncover the long-lost image. The discovery not only sheds new light on Picasso’s artistic process but also adds another layer of intrigue to the story of this iconic painting.
The hidden portrait of the woman was originally painted by Picasso in 1901, just months before he reworked the canvas to depict his friend Mateu Fernández de Soto, a sculptor, seated at a table in shades of blue and green. At the time, Picasso was only 19 years old but already demonstrating the innovative and evolving style that would define his career. For reasons unknown, he chose to paint over the initial portrait, leaving it buried beneath the surface of the final work. The woman’s identity remains a mystery, though she bears a striking resemblance to other women Picasso painted during his time in Paris in 1901. Her distinctive hairstyle, known as a chignon, was a popular fashion trend in the French capital at the time, adding another clue to her possible origins. Despite ongoing efforts to identify her, she may ultimately remain an anonymous figure, leaving art historians to speculate about her role in Picasso’s life—whether she was a model, a lover, or simply a friend.
The process of uncovering the hidden portrait was nothing short of remarkable. Barnaby Wright, the deputy head of the Courtauld Gallery, described how the woman’s image “literally emerged before our eyes… piece-by-piece” as the infrared camera scanned the painting. Researchers had long suspected that there might be something beneath the surface, as certain brushstrokes in the final portrait seemed inconsistent with the rest of the work. However, they had no idea what they would find when they began their investigation. The use of advanced imaging techniques not only revealed the contours of the woman’s face but also highlighted the intricate details of her features, such as her eye, ear, and hair. These details, though faint, provide a poignant reminder of the artist’s process and the layers of creativity that went into his work.
The discovery of the hidden portrait offers valuable insights into Picasso’s artistic development, particularly during his Blue Period. This era, which lasted from around 1901 to 1904, was marked by somber tones and a departure from the more vibrant, Impressionistic style of his earlier work. The Blue Period was deeply influenced by personal struggles, including the tragic suicide of Picasso’s close friend, Carlos Casagemas. During this time, Picasso’s paintings often reflected themes of melancholy, poverty, and social isolation. The Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto is a prime example of this stylistic shift, with its muted palette and contemplative mood. By painting over the earlier portrait of the woman, Picasso was not only changing the subject of his work but also transitioning into a new artistic phase—a process that researchers believe he repeated multiple times on the same canvas.
The imaging techniques used by the Courtauld Institute revealed that Picasso likely reworked the canvas three or four times, layering new images over old ones. This practice was not uncommon for the artist, who often struggled financially and could not afford to purchase new materials. However, it also speaks to his creative restless
