A mysterious portrait of a woman was found under Picasso"s painting

Mystery of the Canvas: Mysterious Woman Discovered Under Picasso's Portrait

Modern technology has helped uncover another secret of the great 20th-century artist. Specialists at London's Courtauld Gallery made a sensational discovery while examining Pablo Picasso's famous painting "Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto".

Using infrared and X-ray scanning, experts discovered that beneath the well-known portrait lies an image of a mysterious woman. This hidden portrait was presumably created before 1901, when Picasso decided to reuse the canvas for the portrait of his sculptor friend.

Interestingly, during this period (1900-1901), Picasso was searching for his own style, often experimenting with techniques and subjects. This was a transition from his "Blue Period" to more realistic works. Research has shown that the artist used this canvas three to four times, which was typical for young Picasso, who often experienced financial difficulties.

According to gallery deputy director Barnaby Wright, the woman's identity remains a mystery. "She could have been one of the artist's numerous muses, a model, or a close friend". During that period, Picasso frequently socialized with members of the Parisian and Barcelona bohemian circles, which significantly widens the range of potential models.

Experts continue their research, hoping to find additional clues that will help identify the mysterious woman and shed light on the little-known period of the great artist's work.