Pada usia 23 tahun, Picasso pindah ke Paris yang merupakan kota pusat seni dunia pada masa itu.
Near the end of his life he painted a number of self portraits.
Namun ketika lukisan tersebut ditemukan dalam keadaan tanpa bingkai.
The painting was completed by Picasso in 1937 and it has been considered to be one of his most famous works.
Picasso created this piece soon after his close friend Casagemas committed suicide as a result of a lengthy battle with mental illness and despair.
While Wynn was showing the painting to his friends, apparently about to reveal the now still officially undisclosed previous owner see above , he put his right elbow through the canvas, puncturing the left forearm of the figure and creating a six-inch tear.