NEW YORK – Pablo Picasso’s Le Marin, 28 October 1943 will be offered at Christie’s May 15 Evening Sale of Impressionist and Modern Art. Executed at the height of Occupation, Le Marin, widely recognized as Picasso himself, clad in his iconic striped fisherman’s jersey, offers one of the most profound and revealing views into the artist’s wartime psyche.

“From the depth and power of expression to his striped Breton shirt, Le Marin is an extraordinarily vivid portrait of the artist,” said Adrien Meyer, Co-Chairman, Impressionist and Modern Art, Christie’s New York. “Painted at Picasso and western civilization’s lowest ebb in World War II, Le Marin is art history and 20th century history writ large. That Le Marin once hung in the legendary collection of Victor and Sally Ganz, makes this picture all the more exceptional.”

Le Marin last appeared at auction in 1997, as part of the legendary sale of the Collection of Victor and Sally Ganz. Over their lifetime together, Victor and Sally Ganz assembled what is still one of the most celebrated collections of the 20th century.

Of all the artists that they collected, the Ganzes were most committed to Picasso, acquiring his works exclusively over two decades, including Les Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’), which became the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction when it realized $179.4 million at Christie’s New York in May 2015. Les Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) continues to hold the world record for Picasso and is the second-highest result for any work at auction.

The estimate for Le Marin is available upon request.