In a remarkable twist of fate, a French engineer has struck gold after securing a Picasso painting valued at approximately €1 million (£868,950) through a charity raffle. Ari Hodara, a 58-year-old sales engineer, purchased a €100 (£86.8) ticket just days before the draw, which took place on Tuesday in a live-streamed event from Christie’s in Paris. The raffle, which attracted participants from around the globe, sold over 120,000 tickets, amassing a staggering €12 million (£10.4 million) for Alzheimer’s research.
A Surprising Win
The moment of revelation came when Hodara received a video call from the raffle organisers, who announced his victory. Initially sceptical, he quipped, “How do I know this isn’t a prank?” His disbelief was palpable, as he remarked, “I was surprised, that’s it. When you bet on this, you don’t expect to win.” The painting he won, titled *Tête de femme* (“Head of a Woman”), was created in 1941 and portrays Dora Maar, Picasso’s muse and partner, in a palette of subdued grey, white, and blue tones that evoke the somber spirit of the wartime era. Olivier Widmaier Picasso, the artist’s grandson, noted that the artwork also hints at a glimmer of hope.
Hodara recounted how he stumbled upon the raffle while dining out, leading him to purchase a ticket. “First, I will tell the news to my wife, who has yet to return from work,” he said, expressing his intention to keep the painting.
A Charitable Endeavour
The *1 Picasso for €100* raffle, now in its third iteration, was initiated in 2013 by French journalist Peri Cochin, with backing from Picasso’s family and foundation. This year marked a milestone, as every single ticket was sold for the first time in the event’s history, drawing participants from 52 nations. The proceeds will not only benefit Hodara but will also channel €1 million to the Opera Gallery, the painting’s former owner, while the remaining funds—approximately €11 million (£9.5 million)—will be donated to the Fondation Recherche Alzheimer.
Olivier de Ladoucette, a figure in the foundation, expressed the urgency of funding for Alzheimer’s research, stating, “In our developed societies, we still haven’t understood that this is a major public health issue and that absolutely everyone needs to get involved. This Picasso initiative is one more building block so that one day Alzheimer’s will be nothing more than a bad memory.”
Previous Editions and Impact
The Alzheimer Research Foundation, which orchestrated the raffle, is affiliated with a prominent public hospital in Paris and has emerged as France’s foremost private financier of Alzheimer’s studies since its inception in 2004. Past iterations of the raffle have successfully paired high-value artworks with charitable causes, including previous winners of Picasso pieces that have supported various humanitarian projects. For instance, a 25-year-old American won *Man in the Opera Hat* in 2013, raising €4.8 million (£4.1 million) for preservation efforts in the UNESCO-listed city of Tyre, while a 2020 draw saw an Italian accountant win *Nature Morte*, with proceeds funding sanitation projects in several African nations.
The initiative aims to democratise access to significant art pieces while facilitating large-scale fundraising efforts, providing an opportunity for the general public to own a Picasso and contribute to vital medical research.
Why it Matters
This astonishing win underscores not only the allure of art but also the power of community-driven fundraising efforts in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. As the global population ages, the importance of funding research into this debilitating condition becomes increasingly crucial. The success of this raffle, with its blend of art and altruism, demonstrates the potential for innovative approaches to charitable giving, fostering hope for future advancements in Alzheimer’s treatment and awareness.
