MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Pablo Picasso's paintings are some of the world's most prized possessions. At auction, they can go for more than $100 million. So how about nabbing one for just 100 euros, or about 115 bucks?
PERI COCHIN: You buy a ticket for 100 euros on our website - 1 Picasso 100 Euros - and you might win this painting that is worth 1 million.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
That's French TV producer Peri Cochin. The 100 euros gets you a raffle ticket for the chance to get the Picasso. Cochin's charity runs the raffle. Proceeds are being donated to France's leading financial supporter of Alzheimer's research. Picasso's grandson Olivier Widmaier Picasso says the work up for grabs is the 1941 portrait "Tete De Femme."
OLIVIER WIDMAIER PICASSO: It's representing Dora Maar, a very famous artist, and a member of the Surrealist movement.
MARTIN: The raffle was coordinated with the Picasso estate, and the younger Picasso is a co-owner. He has several of his grandfather's works at home.
WIDMAIER PICASSO: When I wrote a biography about my grandfather, I discovered that he was a very generous man. He was very discreet, but he loved to help his siblings, his family, his friends and also people that were in need because of the Civil War in Spain, because of second world war in Europe.
MARTÍNEZ: So how might Picasso feel about the raffle?
WIDMAIER PICASSO: That for 100 euros, you can buy one of his painting, would have pleased him, for sure. And I think that, for me, acting as a partner for the promotion is like continuing his path.
MARTÍNEZ: A Pennsylvania man won an earlier Picasso raffle in 2013, and an Italian woman won in 2021. Those paintings are now in small museums near the owners' homes.
WIDMAIER PICASSO: I'm sure that the winner, if he puts the work in his living room, for example, will benefit of an emotion, which is totally different than to look at a picture on a computer. There is an instant link and maybe a link with the artist himself.
MARTIN: Still, the winner can choose profit if they don't want to own a piece of art history. Here's Cochin again.
COCHIN: If he doesn't want to keep it, he can goes to any auction house and sell it there and get the money, of course (laughter).
MARTIN: There are 120,000 tickets issued for the auction. About a third of them are still up for grabs, if you're feeling lucky. The winning ticket will be drawn at Christie's Auction House in Paris on April 14.
(SOUNDBITE OF JAY-Z SONG, "PICASSO BABY") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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