A Parisian art lover has secured a Pablo Picasso masterpiece worth more than €1m after purchasing a €100 raffle ticket by chance. Ari Hodara, 58, a sales professional, found he had claimed the award on Tuesday following a draw taking place at Christie’s auction house in Paris. The artwork, Head of a Woman, is a 1941 painting of Dora Maar, the Spanish artist’s longtime partner and muse. Hodara, who described himself as an casual art enthusiast with a passion for Picasso, bought his ticket over the weekend after learning about the charitable raffle while dining at a dining establishment. “How do I check that it’s not a hoax?” he remarked upon learning the outcome, before stating his intention to keep the artwork.
A welcome discovery over dinner
Hodara’s notable bit of good luck started innocuously whilst he was having a meal at a dining establishment over the weekend. The 58-year-old sales engineer happened to learn about the “1 Picasso for €100” draw by pure chance over dinner, a serendipitous encounter that would in the end alter his circumstances. Rather than turning down the opportunity, he chose to buy a ticket, maybe appealed to by the philanthropic aspect of the raffle or simply intrigued by the possibility of possessing a work by one of the greatest artists. His impulsive choice to place a bet on a €100 ticket would become one of the most fortunate moves he has ever made.
Upon receiving the telephone call from organisers verifying his victory on Tuesday, Hodara’s first response was one of understandable scepticism. “How do I verify that it’s not a hoax?” he asked, a natural response to such an remarkable assertion. However, once the reality of his win became apparent, his thoughts at once shifted to sharing the news with his wife, who was still at work at the time. The sales professional stated his desire to enjoy the moment and keep the painting for himself, at first, rather than immediately considering selling or auctioning it on.
The piece and its documented origin
Head of a Woman is a compelling portrait painted by Picasso in 1941, depicting Dora Maar, the Spanish master’s long-time companion and intimate partner. The work demonstrates Picasso’s distinctive style during this era, blending elements of abstraction with portraiture to produce a compelling and emotionally resonant image. The painting has been valued at over €1m, demonstrating both its cultural importance and the enduring appeal of Picasso’s work in the modern art world. Its inclusion in the fundraising raffle represents a remarkable opportunity for the public to obtain a genuine masterpiece by one of the 20th century’s most significant and prolific artists.
The painting was previously owned by Opera Gallery, an global art dealer whose founder, Gilles Dyan, played a crucial role in facilitating the raffle. Dyan offered the work at a reduced cost, with the public valuation set at €1.45m, significantly above the €1m that is to be given to the gallery from the raffle proceeds. This magnanimous gesture underscores the charitable spirit behind the initiative, with organisers emphasising that the sale would generate substantial funds for Alzheimer’s research. The transaction demonstrates how prestigious artworks can support larger charitable aims whilst continuing to be accessible to art enthusiasts beyond traditional auction house clientele.
Dora Maar: muse and creative partner
Dora Maar was considerably more than merely a subject in Picasso’s creative vision; she was a key figure in the artist’s creative and personal life throughout the 1930s and ’40s. A photographer, sculptor, and painter in her own right, Maar held a complex relationship with Picasso that deeply shaped both their artistic practices. Her image features in numerous works by the Spanish artist, making her one of his most often depicted figures and a essential inspiration throughout a notably prolific period of his career.
Outstanding fundraising results
The third iteration of the “1 Picasso for €100” lottery has proven to be an extraordinary success, with organisers reporting that all 120,000 tickets were completely sold out completely. The raffle produced an impressive €12m in overall revenue, demonstrating the broad public interest for both backing charitable initiatives and the opportunity of obtaining a authentic Picasso work. Of this substantial sum, €1m will be transferred to Opera Gallery, the international art dealership that generously offered the painting at a discounted price. The remaining funds will be directed towards Alzheimer’s research, continuing the raffle’s dedication to supporting vital scientific and medical initiatives that benefit society at a whole.
- All 120,000 raffle tickets sold out, raising €12m in total revenue for charitable causes
- Opera Gallery owner presented the painting at a discounted rate below its €1.45m official valuation
- Previous raffles generated over €10m for cultural work in Lebanon and African water programmes
- The lottery format makes celebrated artworks open to the wider audience beyond standard auction formats
Previous raffle winners
| Year | Winner | Artwork |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Pennsylvania fire-sprinkler business worker | Man in the Opera Hat (1914) |
| 2020 | Claudia Borgogno, Italian accountant | Still Life |
| 2024 | Ari Hodara, Parisian sales engineer | Head of a Woman (1941) |
What happens next for the successful candidate
Hodara’s current priorities centre on communicating the extraordinary discovery with his wife, who was still at work when organisers reached out to him with the life-changing result. The 58-year-old sales engineer indicated his first instinct to hold onto the painting rather than dispose of it, implying he wants to relish his unforeseen find. As a self-proclaimed art enthusiast with a appreciation of Picasso’s work, Hodara seems truly pleased by the possibility of possessing such a notable cultural gem, having bought his raffle ticket largely on a whim after discovering the raffle at a restaurant over dinner.
The painting itself, Head of a Woman, exemplifies a highly intimate work from Picasso’s oeuvre, capturing the likeness of Dora Maar during their relationship in 1941. For Hodara, acquiring this portrait means joining an select circle of raffle winners who have acquired genuine works by Picasso through the innovative lottery scheme. Whether he ultimately opts to show the work at his residence, loan it to institutions, or reconsider his position in future will become clear, but for now, the Paris-based art collector can look forward to welcoming one of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists into his home.