Who Is the Mysterious Woman Behind Picasso’s Painting

For over a hundred years, a hidden mystery lay beneath one of Pablo Picasso’s early masterpieces. Now, thanks to modern technology, conservators at the Courtauld Institute of Art in the UK have uncovered a long-lost portrait buried beneath Picasso’s famous Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto.

A Hidden Face Beneath the Canvas

Art experts had long suspected that another painting might be lurking beneath the surface of Picasso’s 1901 portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto, a Spanish sculptor and close friend of the artist. Their suspicions were confirmed when infrared and X-ray imaging revealed the outline of a woman’s face, shoulders, and delicate fingers beneath the layers of blue and grey paint.

"We had always suspected something was hidden underneath because the surface of the painting showed unusual textures and patterns," said Barnaby Wright, Deputy Head of the Courtauld Gallery, where the artwork is displayed as part of the prestigious Oskar Reinhart Collection.

"In fact, you can even begin to make out her shape just by looking closely with the naked eye."

But who was this woman? Was she a muse, a model, a lover, or simply a forgotten experiment on the artist’s canvas?

A Glimpse Into Picasso’s Blue Period

Picasso painted Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto in the fall of 1901, at the very start of his famous Blue Period, a time marked by somber tones and melancholic themes. This shift in his artistic vision was largely influenced by the suicide of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas, earlier that year.

At just 19 years old, Picasso had arrived in Paris in May 1901 for his first major exhibition, which took place at Ambroise Vollard’s prestigious gallery. During this time, he experimented with Impressionist influences, painting lively scenes of Parisian nightlife. However, by the end of the year, his work took on a darker, more contemplative mood, dominated by shades of blue and grey, reflecting the grief and introspection he felt after Casagemas’s tragic death.

It was during this pivotal transition in his career that Picasso painted Mateu Fernández de Soto, his fellow Spanish artist and studio companion, while they lived together in Paris.

Who Was the Woman Behind the Painting?

The hidden portrait beneath the canvas is believed to have been painted months before Fernández de Soto’s portrait. Art historians note that her modern hairstyle, delicate posture, and expressive hands resemble the women Picasso painted in his early Paris years, particularly in scenes of bars, cabarets, and bohemian life.

"She could have been a model, a friend, or even a lover," experts at the Courtauld Institute speculate.

"It’s possible she was one of the vibrant figures from Picasso’s early Parisian works—perhaps a melancholic woman sitting in a bar, lost in thought."

A Common Practice Among Artists

Why did Picasso paint over her? The most likely explanation is a simple one—financial necessity.

During the early years of his career, Picasso often reused canvases due to the high cost of art materials. This was a common practice among struggling artists, who frequently painted over unfinished works or discarded compositions to create something new.

This isn’t the first time a Picasso painting has revealed a hidden secret beneath its surface. In 2021, a nude portrait was discovered beneath The Blind Man’s Meal, further proving that Picasso often repurposed canvases.

Century Old Secret

Further analysis may help reveal more details about this mystery woman, but experts agree that her true identity may never be known. Who she was, what role she played in Picasso’s life, and why he decided to paint over her may forever remain one of the artist’s many secrets.

Still, the discovery offers an extraordinary glimpse into Picasso’s creative process, showing how even his most celebrated works hold hidden layers of history, emotion, and artistic evolution—waiting to be uncovered more than a century later.