Paris Software Engineer Wins €1m Picasso in €100 Charity Raffle
A software engineer from Paris, Ari Hodara, has become the lucky winner of a Picasso painting valued at more than €1 million (£870,000) after purchasing a €100 ticket in a charity raffle. The 58-year-old initially suspected the news might be a hoax when he received a video call from Christie's auction house in Paris informing him of his prize.
Surprise Win for Art Enthusiast
Hodara, who describes himself as an art amateur with a particular fondness for Picasso, discovered the raffle by chance while dining at a restaurant over the weekend. He promptly bought a ticket, never imagining he would soon own the 1941 masterpiece, Head of a Woman, a portrait of Picasso's longtime muse and partner, Dora Maar.
"How do I check that it's not a hoax?" Hodara asked upon learning of his win. He plans to share the exciting news with his wife first and intends to keep the painting, at least initially, to fully appreciate his unexpected fortune.
Charity Raffle Raises Millions for Alzheimer's Research
This marks the third iteration of the "1 Picasso for €100" lottery, which aims to support Alzheimer's research. Organisers reported that all 120,000 tickets were sold, generating €12 million (£10.4 million). Of this total, €1 million will be paid to the Opera Gallery, the international art dealership that owned the painting.
Gilles Dyan, founder of the Opera Gallery, noted that he offered a preferential price for the artwork, with its public valuation set at €1.45 million. The raffle was conceived by Péri Cochin, a French television producer and host, who envisioned a global online raffle featuring a renowned artist like Picasso.
Picasso's Legacy and the Painting's Significance
Picasso's grandson, Olivier, expressed his support for the project, describing it as a natural extension of his grandfather's generous and discreet legacy. He highlighted that Tête de femme was painted in the same Paris studio as the iconic Guernica in 1937, during a tumultuous period marked by personal and political challenges.
Olivier explained, "The colours are darker than usual, with brown, black, and grey. While it's a beautiful depiction of a woman, there is still the ambience of Picasso." He hopes such raffles can continue annually to honour his grandfather's philanthropic spirit.
Previous Raffles and Global Impact
In earlier editions of the raffle, winners included a fire-sprinkler business worker from Pennsylvania in 2013, who won Man in the Opera Hat, and an Italian accountant in 2020, who received Still Life as a Christmas gift from her son. These previous events raised over €10 million combined for cultural initiatives in Lebanon and water and hygiene programmes in Africa.
The success of these raffles underscores the power of art in driving charitable efforts, blending cultural appreciation with meaningful social impact on a global scale.
