It should be noted that the estimate provided above is contingent on the confirmation of the subject work as an authentic drawing by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973).

The subject work appears to be a chalk drawing on paper possibly executed in the late 1960s or early 1970s, towards the end of Picasso’s long, prolific career. Before his death in 1973, Picasso executed several figural chalk drawings similar in style and subject matter to the appraised work. However, the approximate date of this drawing will need to be further researched and confirmed. The drawing is signed ‘Picasso’ in the lower right quadrant of the composition.

The work depicts a female head with simplified, yet exaggerated facial features reminiscent of the artist’s African period (c. 1906-1909), where he took inspiration from ‘primitive’ African masks and sculpture that were circulating throughout Europe, particularly Paris, due to expanding colonialism. The figure’s face also features some distinctive Cubist elements. The female’s ovate head and closed eyelids face straight on, while her nose and mouth appear in profile. The technique of depicting fractured figures and objects from multiple perspectives at once is a hallmark of Cubism, arguably Picasso’s most recognized style.

In the last five years, authenticated Picasso chalk drawings from the late 1960s and early 1970s have regularly appeared at auction. Overall, the drawings tend to sell well, achieving realized prices within or above their high presale estimates. Many of these drawings are more compositionally complex than the subject work, usually featuring multiple colors and inscriptions in some cases. The estimate provided is based on comparables recently sold at auction. The subject work’s size, composition, and Picasso’s strong overall auction market were taken into consideration when determining the estimate. In many cases, pricing for similar examples available on the primary (retail) market vary, and are often higher than secondary (auction) market examples.