Picasso's Eldest Daughter Passes Away "Frequently Appeared in His Works... Profound Influence"

Pablo Picasso's work 'Woman with a Red Hat and a Drink' / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] Maya Louise-Picasso, daughter of Pablo Picasso, passed away at the age of 87 on the 20th (local time), according to reports by The New York Times and dpa news agency on the 26th.

According to foreign media, she died of a lung disease in Paris, France. The French Ministry of Culture stated in a press release on the 21st, "Maya highlighted Picasso's life and works," and "Thanks to Maya's contributions, we were able to encounter unique works," paying tribute to her.

Maya Louise-Picasso was Picasso's official first daughter. Born in 1935 to Picasso and Marie-Th?r?se Walter, Maya had a profound influence on her father Picasso's artistic world, dpa reported.

When Maya was born, Picasso was engaged in groundbreaking work in Cubism and Surrealism. Maya, along with her mother, was a great inspiration and joy to the middle-aged Picasso, and she was the most frequently depicted among Picasso's children.

Picasso used young Maya as a model for his paintings and showed exceptional affection for his daughter, painting 14 portraits of Maya from 1938 to the following year, including "Maya with a Doll" and "Maya in a Sailor Suit."

After Picasso's death, Maya was designated as an heir. Since Picasso left no will during his lifetime, Maya was eventually recognized as an heir after going through complex negotiations regarding inheritance with other children.

Having spent her childhood during the period when Picasso was most passionately painting, Maya possessed extensive factual and professional knowledge about Picasso. Thanks to her continuous research and efforts regarding her father's legacy, she was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour in France in 2007 and Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2016.

During her lifetime, she also handed over eight of her father's works, including a portrait of her mother Walter, to French authorities in lieu of inheritance tax. The paintings and legacy inherited from her father are currently managed by her daughter, art historian Bidmayer Louise-Picasso.

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