Nude in a Black Armchair

Pablo Picasso's "Nude in a Black Armchair" painted on March 9, 1932, offers a fascinating insight into his life and artistic influences during his time in Boisgeloup, just outside Paris. This piece is particularly significant as it initiates a series of paintings featuring his mistress, Marie-Thérèse Walter, and stands as the largest work in that collection.

Art critic Richard Lacayo has noted the palpable influence of Henri Matisse in this painting. Picasso appears to have integrated Matisse's signature voluptuous curves and his strategic use of black to accentuate the pink hues. Former Museum of Modern Art curator William Rubin provided a more provocative interpretation, describing the painting as a "squishy sexual toy." Other critics have discerned deeper themes, perceiving the artwork as a celebration of fertility, symbolized by both the female figure and the plant depicted.

In 1999, this extraordinary painting captured the attention of Les Wexner, the founder of Limited Brands, who acquired it for an impressive $45.1 million.