It is not every day that one gets the opportunity to come face to face with a Picasso or 34, in this case. The Opera Gallery in Monaco is exhibiting the collection of 17 oil paintings and 17 drawings and water colours by the master himself, Pablo Picasso, from the period between 1905 and 1969. Hundreds of invitees gathered at the gallery to be tempted by the collection that held a value of between 60 and 70 million Euros. This is an important exhibition for the French gallery Opera, which brought together this impressive collection.

Picasso's outstanding talent was in being able to express in a few brush or pen strokes a wealth of information that other artists could never emulate. So many of his works are little more than quick sketches, but he knew when to stop, having unapologetically captured the essence of the message striving to escape from his fertile imagination. Over a period of 70 years he produced around 20,000 pieces of artwork. Love him or loathe him, one cannot help but admire the frenzy his paintings continue to create when his work is in town. His style somewhat highlights imperfection and he exaggerates vulgarity in a way artists could not so easily get away with today. With the clever use of distorted cube-like shapes he is renowned for he developed a unique and priceless style. There can only be one Picasso.

Combat De Faune Et De Centaure 22 August 1946

Without further insight and knowledge about certain pieces of his work, you might assume this is an unfinished work; a line drawing that's only partly been painted over. But the (official) truth is more interesting. It seems that in the 1930s Picasso had two lovers at the same time. Whether they knew of each other I do not know, but the painting is a symbol of the conflict going on inside himself, to resolve which of the two should prevail.

Maybe the story is true; maybe it's just rationalisation. The artist is no longer around to confirm it one way or the other. But either way it makes the painting that little bit more interesting and intriguing.

A fair bit of activity and interest was being placed on this next particular piece 'Femme Au Chapeau Assise. Buste. I too felt the attraction and had to capture my own private moment.

The Femme Au Chapeau Assise. Buste is a 1962 piece.

There is very little I can discover about this painting, except that it falls within a series he created titled 'Femme Au Chapeau'. Even though the painting features a double face - perhaps a reflection of himself looking from the outside in, there is a little less fuss surrounding this painting and the delicate hues are rather pleasing.  At an estimated value of around 5 million, it will surely grace a wonderful palace wall or beautiful villa... malheureusement... unfortunately not mine!

More photographs of the Picasso Exhibition at Opera Gallery in Monaco can be seen on Facebook.com/TheRivieraWoman