Hidden portrait revealed beneath Picasso Blue Period painting

A captivating secret has emerged from one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous Blue Period paintings. Hidden beneath 'Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto' (1901) is an earlier painting of an enigmatic woman, concealed for more than a century.

Researchers at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London made the breakthrough using advanced imaging technology, offering fresh insights into Picasso’s early years and sparking speculation about the identity of the mystery subject.

The discovery was made while studying the painting, which features Picasso’s friend, the Spanish sculptor Mateu Fernández de Soto. The portrait, marked by Picasso’s sombre blue and green palette, was thought to be one of the defining works of the artist's melancholic period, which lasted from 1901 to 1904. But thanks to X-ray and infrared analysis, the hidden figure of a woman – her hair twisted into a chignon – has emerged, likely painted just a few months before the portrait of de Soto was completed.

Tell-tale signs

The reveal confirmed some researchers' previous assumptions about the piece. "We have long suspected another painting lay behind the portrait of de Soto because the surface of the work has tell-tale marks and textures of something below," said Barnaby Wright, deputy head of the Courtauld Gallery. "Now we know that this is the figure of a woman. You can even start to make out her shape just by looking at the painting with the naked eye."

The woman’s expression is serene, yet her presence remains a mystery. She could have been a model, a friend, or even a lover, posing for one of Picasso’s earlier works, which often captured scenes from Parisian nightlife. Some have commented on her resemblance to the women depicted in other Blue Period works, like 'Woman with Crossed Arms' (1901–1902) and 'The Absinthe Drinker' (1901-1902).

Further research may never reveal the woman’s true identity, the Courtauld said in a statement, but her unveiling nonetheless offers a glimpse into Picasso’s evolving style. The Institute's statement noted that the painting clearly underwent several revisions and may have originally been created in the vibrant, Impressionistic style that preceded the Blue Period.

“The way Picasso transformed one image into another, evolving his style, would become a hallmark of his work,” said Wright. “That ability is what made him one of the most influential figures in art history.”

This newly revealed masterpiece will be featured in the Courtauld Gallery's upcoming exhibition, 'Goya to Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection', opening 14 February. Among the other works on display will be paintings by Goya, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.