In 1927, Marie Thérèse Walter was only 17 when she was approached by Picasso in front of the Galeries Lafayette in Paris. At the time, Picasso was married to Olga Kokhlova and had a small son named Paulo. Picasso and Walter’s affair was kept quiet for a time, but then Olga caught on to the relationship around 1935. She wanted a divorce, but Picasso did not want to give Olga half of his assets, as would happen under French law. So the Picassos remained married until Olga’s death in 1955. Picasso and Marie Thérèse Walter had a daughter, Maya, who is now 82 years old. At that time, Picasso would install Marie Thérèse in houses or rentals nearby where he and Olga were living. Only when Olga found out that Marie Thérèse was pregnant, did Olga move to the south of France with Paulo. Picasso and Walter were together until Picasso took up with Dora Maar. He visited Maya and supported Maya and her mother financially.
–Marie Thérèse Walter
–Marie Therese was strong and athletic
–Marie Thérèse and Maya in the 1940s
Four years after Picasso’s death, Marie Thérèse committed suicide.
A couple of works inspired by Marie Thérèse:
—La Rêve (The Dream), Pablo Picasso, 1932, oil on canvas, 4 ft. 3 in. by 3 ft. 2 in. (130 × 97 cm.), Private collection of Steven A. Cohen.
—Girl with a Red Beret and Pompom, Pablo Picasso, 1937, oil on canvas, 45 cm. by 60 cm, Private collection of Richard Caring.
Maya married and had three children: Olivier, Richard, and Diana.
–a recent photo of Maya Widmaier-Picasso
So well researched, Denise – I’ve enjoyed your posts immensely!
Thank you, Martha. And you have reminded me of so much this year!
Thanks Denise – another interesting chapter (or 2 or 3!!) in Picasso’s life … thanks for the photos and the art too … cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. This was a rather sad but interesting post.
So much inspiration comes from sadness, from tragedy. I think La Reve is one of his most recognizable, isn’t it? I feel like I’ve seen it before, several times. Thank you for making the month interesting.
Yes, and I think he painted it in an afternoon. MT was tired and was slumping in a chair. Picasso painted away! She was 24 by that time.
And thank you, Silvia, for your likes and comments!