A lucky art enthusiast in Paris was overjoyed to discover he had won a Pablo Picasso painting valued at over $1 million in a raffle held at Christie’s auction house. Ari Hodara, 58, expressed disbelief and questioned the authenticity of the win, mentioning he purchased the ticket on a whim after learning about the charity raffle while dining at a restaurant. Hodara, who described himself as an amateur art lover with a particular fondness for Picasso, plans to share the news with his wife and intends to cherish the artwork.
The painting in question, Picasso’s Head of a Woman, a portrait of his muse Dora Maar, was created in 1941 and was the highlight of the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” lottery. The online draw aimed at supporting Alzheimer’s research sold all 120,000 tickets globally, generating proceeds of 12 million euros ($19.5 million). Of this amount, one million euros will be donated to the Opera Gallery, where the painting was originally owned.
Gilles Dyan, the founder of the gallery, disclosed that a discounted price was offered for the painting, which had a public value of 1.45 million euros ($2.35 million). This initiative marked the third edition of the raffle, following previous successful events that raised substantial funds for cultural projects in Lebanon and humanitarian efforts in Africa. The Alzheimer Research Foundation, which organized the raffle, has been a key supporter of Alzheimer’s research in France since its establishment in 2004.
This win marks another successful chapter in the history of the Picasso raffle, with previous winners including a Pennsylvania man and an Italian accountant who both secured valuable Picasso artworks through the charitable initiative. The raffle has not only provided art enthusiasts with the chance to own a masterpiece but has also significantly contributed to charitable causes over the years.