In a record-breaking sale, a Picasso painting titled "Femme ? la montre" was auctioned for over $139 million at Sotheby's in New York on Wednesday. This 1932 oil painting, depicting Picasso's lover and muse Marie-Therese Walter, was initially estimated to sell for $120 million but surpassed all expectations. This sale marks the second-highest price ever achieved for a Picasso artwork, following the $179 million sale of "Les femmes d'Alger" in 2015.

Marie-Therese Walter, who met Picasso when she was 17 and he was 45 in 1927, became the artist's "golden muse." Their relationship was kept secret due to Picasso's marriage to Russian-Ukrainian ballerina Olga Khokhlova. Picasso painted a series of artworks in 1932 to publicly declare Walter's significance in his life, with "Femme ? la montre" being the first such piece. In this painting, Walter is depicted wearing Picasso's watch, which is considered an honor, as the artist only included watches in three of his major works.

The painting was acquired by Emily Fisher Landau in 1968 and quickly became one of the centerpieces of her art collection. Landau, an art patron and collector, founded her own museum, the Fisher Landau Center for Art in Long Island City, New York, where the painting was previously displayed. Landau's collection includes around 120 other pieces, featuring prominent artists such as Henri Matisse and Mark Rothko, which were also auctioned by Sotheby's this week with an anticipated total of $400 million.

The staggering price achieved by "Femme ? la montre" is only surpassed by two other artworks in history. Leonardo Da Vinci's “Salvator Mundi” holds the title for the most expensive painting ever sold, fetching over $450 million at a Christie's auction in 2017. Willem de Kooning's “Interchange” comes in second place, with a private sale between the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth C. Griffin reaching $300 million in 2015. De Kooning initially sold the abstract piece for a mere $4,000 in 1955.

The sale of "Femme ? la montre" highlights the enduring appeal and value of Picasso's work. The painting not only represents a significant chapter in the artist's personal life, but also serves as a testament to his artistic prowess. By breaking the estimated price and reaching record figures, the auction reaffirms Picasso's status as a master of the art world.