A lucky art enthusiast in Paris was delighted to discover he had won a Pablo Picasso painting valued at over $1 million in a raffle on Tuesday. Ari Hodara, 58, expressed disbelief and questioned the authenticity of the win when organizers contacted him following the draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris.
Describing himself as an art amateur with a fondness for Picasso, Hodara shared that he purchased a ticket for the charity raffle on a whim after learning about it during a meal at a restaurant over the weekend. He mentioned plans to inform his wife, who was still at work, and expressed his intention to initially keep the painting for himself.
The painting in question, Picasso’s Head of a Woman, a portrait of his muse Dora Maar, created in 1941, was the prize for the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” lottery. Participants had the opportunity to win the artwork by the Spanish master in support of Alzheimer’s research by purchasing a 100 euro ticket, equivalent to around $162.
Moreover, the online draw attracted global participation, with all 120,000 tickets being sold, generating 12 million euros ($19.5 million). A significant portion of the proceeds, one million euros, will be donated to the Opera Gallery, the painting’s owner. Gilles Dyan, the gallery founder, disclosed offering a discounted price for the painting, which has a public value of 1.45 million euros ($2.35 million).
The raffle’s history includes previous successful events where artworks by Picasso were won, with proceeds benefiting cultural projects in Lebanon and water and hygiene initiatives in Africa. The Alzheimer Research Foundation, responsible for organizing the raffle, has been a key supporter of Alzheimer-related medical research in France since its establishment in 2004.
