Dora Maar was a French photographer, painter, and poet. Born Henriette Theodora Markovitch in 1907, the artist was raised between Argentina and France. Educated, well-travelled and supported by her family, Maar was able to pursue a career in the arts. She initially studied applied arts and painting at one of Paris’s most progressive art schools. She later went on to study photography. Disciplined and talented, Maar soon mastered the medium. She decided to pursue commercial photography, perhaps because this was a more reliable and financially stable career choice.

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In late 1935 or early 1936, Maar met Pablo Picasso. They became lovers soon afterwards. She was at the height of her career, while he was emerging from what he described as ‘the worst time of my life’. He had not sculpted or painted for months.

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Their relationship had a huge affect on both their careers. Maar documented the creation of Picasso’s most political work, Guernica 1937, encouraged his political awareness and educated him in photography. Specifically, Maar taught Picasso the cliché verre technique – a complex method combining photography and printmaking