The German state of Bavaria has successfully acquired Pablo Picasso’s 1911 painting Woman with a Violin for the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. This acquisition was made possible through the combined support of private and state sponsors, including the German federal government.
The artwork was previously held by a private collector who had loaned it to the Pinakothek der Moderne continuously since 2014. Funding for the purchase came from multiple sources: the Bavarian state government, the federal Ministry of Culture, the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation, the States’ Cultural Foundation, the Würth Group—a company specializing in screws and tools—and Fritz Schäfer, a private patron.
Markus Blume, the Bavarian culture minister, highlighted the cooperation involved in this transaction, stating, “Thanks to terrific collaboration between political institutions, foundations, business and private sponsors, this iconic work by Picasso will have its home in the heart of the cultural metropolis of Munich.”
Historical Significance and Provenance
Woman with a Violin first appeared in Germany in 1912 during an exhibition in Cologne. The painting was originally acquired from Daniel Henry Kahnweiler by the renowned art dealer Alfred Flechtheim and featured in the first international Picasso retrospective held at Galerie Heinrich Thannhauser in Munich in 1913.
After changing ownership twice, the painting was purchased between 1927 and 1931 by Hermann Lange, a textiles manufacturer from Krefeld. It remained within the Lange family until the recent acquisition by Bavaria.
Value and Cultural Importance
While the exact purchase price has not been disclosed, the States’ Cultural Foundation revealed its contribution of €1.35 million towards the acquisition. German culture minister Claudia Roth praised the painting, calling it “a masterpiece of Cubism of priceless art historical value.”
The Pinakothek der Moderne emphasized how this acquisition fills a notable gap in its collection. Oliver Kase, director of Bavaria’s Modern collections, commented, “Until now, the Munich collections had no central work devoted to analyzing the human form from Picasso’s peak period.” He described the painting as a “splendid” addition to existing Cubist works in the museum, complementing two earlier Picassos and Georges Braque’s 1910 painting Woman With a Mandolin.
Current Exhibition
The newly acquired and reframed Woman with a Violin is now on display within the Cubist gallery at the Pinakothek der Moderne, enhancing the museum’s presentation of early 20th-century artistic innovation.
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
