Art historians at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London have revealed a hidden portrait of a woman beneath Pablo Picasso’s painting “Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto,” originally rendered in 1901. The woman’s image, obscured when Picasso painted over it using vibrant blues and greens, came to light through advanced infrared and X-ray imaging techniques as part of an upcoming exhibition.
Deputy head Barnaby Wright explained that the contours of the original portrait emerged gradually, as the imaging technology allowed them to visualise the layers of paint. Despite the discovery, the woman’s identity remains uncertain, although she resembles several figures Picasso depicted in Paris during that time, particularly with her fashionable chignon hairstyle. Wright remarked that she might remain an anonymous model, possibly a friend, a lover, or simply a muse for the young artist.
At the age of 19, Picasso was already experimenting with varied techniques, transitioning from Impressionism to the more somber tones characteristic of his Blue Period, influenced by personal tragedies. The original portrait’s ghostly outlines still linger in the finished piece, with remnants visible upon close examination. “Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto” will be featured at the Courtauld Gallery from February 14 to May 26, offering a closer look at this fascinating artistic evolution.