Forget multi-million pound auctions. Art lovers worldwide now have an unprecedented chance to acquire an original Pablo Picasso masterpiece for the modest sum of just €100. A valuable 1941 watercolour by the iconic artist is being raffled in a unique charity initiative aimed at funding critical Alzheimer's research.
A Masterpiece for a Mission
The French Alzheimer's Research Foundation is behind the extraordinary project, titled "1 Picasso for 100 Euros". The prize is Picasso's portrait Tête de femme, painted in 1941 and professionally valued at over €1 million. All proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets will be directed towards research for Alzheimer's disease, a leading global cause of death and disability for which there is currently no cure.
The initiative has the full backing of the Picasso estate. The artist's grandson, Olivier Picasso, described the raffle as a "logical and legitimate" extension of his grandfather's philanthropic legacy. "My grandfather was very generous," Olivier told the Guardian. "He helped people in need... So for me, this project is an absolutely logical part of his legacy."
The Story Behind the Scheme
The raffle is the brainchild of French television producer Péri Cochin, who was inspired by fundraising events. "I thought, wouldn't it be great to do a worldwide raffle by selling tickets online?" she said. "I decided it should be a piece of art, and what is the most famous name in art? Obviously, it's Picasso."
After gaining approval from the Picasso administration, Cochin secured the 1941 painting from the Opera gallery. The gallery will receive just under €1 million following the draw. "We are used to hearing about Picasso and these high-priced auctions, but this was the first time where Picasso was really related to a charity," Cochin noted.
Olivier Picasso emphasised the personal connection to the cause. "Now that we are living older than before, we or people around us could be affected by this disease. And I know how difficult and painful it is," he added.
How to Win and a Historic Context
The organisers aim to sell 120,000 tickets, which would raise an impressive €11 million for research. The winner will be drawn in a high-profile event scheduled for 14 April at the Christie's auction house in Paris. A protective clause ensures that if insufficient tickets are sold to cover the painting's cost, all participants will be reimbursed.
The artwork itself, Tête de femme, carries significant historical weight. Olivier Picasso revealed it was painted in the same Left Bank, Paris studio as the monumental anti-war painting Guernica. Created during the Nazi occupation of Paris and a tumultuous period in the artist's personal life, the portrait features a darker palette of browns, blacks, and greys. "My grandfather kept the painting as a souvenir of the moment," Olivier explained.
This is not Cochin's first foray into such charitable ventures. She previously organised raffles for Picasso works in 2013 and 2020, raising over €10 million in total. Past winners include a 25-year-old American who won an €860,000 drawing and an Italian accountant who received a €1 million painting as a Christmas gift from her son, a life-changing event she still cherishes.
