Scientists and art experts made a new discovery recently when advances in in-depth infrared imagery of Pablo Picasso's masterpiece "The Blue Room" revealed a portrait hidden beneath the brushstrokes.

Using the technology, conservators at The Phillips Collection in Washington were able to see the image of a bow-tied man with his face resting in his hand. He is shown wearing a jacket and with three rings on his fingers.

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Now experts are hoping to reveal who the man in the portrait is.

"We're still working on answering that question," said conservator Patricia Favero.

Picasso created both paintings in Paris during his famous Blue Period which ranged from 1901 to 1904. During this time, Picasso focused on monochromatic paintings in shades of blue and blue-green.

Ever since 2008, "The Blue Room" has been the subject of research by experts from the Phillips Collection, National Gallery of Art, Cornell University, and Delaware's Winterthur Museum.

The technical analysis showed that Picasso most likely painted the hidden portrait right before painting "The Blue Room".

Curators believe that the famous artist had painted over another completed work when the inspiration struck him.

"When he [Picasso] had an idea, you know, he just had to get it down and realise it," curator Susan Behrends Frank told press.

Frank also revealed that Picasso was often unable to afford new canvases every time he had an idea he wanted to paint. As a result, he sometimes painted over existing works or used cardboard instead of more expensive canvas.

Experts suspected as early as 1954 that "The Blue Room" might have another painting underneath as brushstrokes did not match the composition of the top work.

Research on the paintings is expected to continue and curators plan on using "The Blue Room" and the portrait hidden beneath as the main focus for a 2017 exhibition as well as a 2015 South Korea tour.

Tagsmystery, portrait, Picasso, blue room, discovered, man