A Pablo Picasso Print Stolen in 2018 Has Finally Been Recovered
The recovered print is the ninth of just 30 copies, signed by Picasso in green.
Summary
An original 1949 Pablo Picasso etching titled Torero was recovered in Milwaukee eight years after it was stolen from a downtown gallery
A local landlord discovered the dust-covered print hanging in a vacant apartment following a tenant eviction
Valued at approximately $50,000, the rare artwork is one of 30 known copies and still featured its original gallery sticker on the frame
A rare Pablo Picasso print that vanished in broad daylight from DeLind Fine Art Appraisals in February 2018 has resurfaced in an unexpected location. The artwork was found by a local landlord inside a vacant apartment. Tucked away and obscured by layers of dust, the piece remained largely untouched since its disappearance. A community member eventually walked into a Milwaukee Police Department station on August 5 to hand over the etching. Gallery owner Bill DeLind authenticated the work shortly after its recovery.
Signed by the legendary artist in green crayon, the recovered print is the ninth copy in a limited run of 30 produced using a sugar lift etching process at the Mourlot Studio in Paris. Appraisers value the black ink woven paper piece at up to $50,000 USD. The artwork still bore the original gallery sticker on the back of its frame when authorities took possession of it. The initial theft made international headlines and prompted the FBI to add the piece to its National Stolen Art File. Experts note that the notoriety surrounding the high-profile heist could increase the market value of the work significantly.
The sudden return of the piece brings closure to a long-running mystery for the local art community. DeLind and his late business partner Michael Goforth had originally displayed the piece in a lobby case at a downtown building. Goforth passed away earlier this year and spent the last six years calling police on the anniversary of the crime to keep the investigation active. Surveillance cameras famously failed to capture the culprit during the brief afternoon window when the theft occurred.
Authorities noted that the six-year statute of limitations for felony theft in Wisconsin has expired, making criminal charges improbable despite the recovery. Police continue to investigate the exact circumstances of the artwork’s journey over the past eight years. For now, the Picasso etching remains in custody while gallery representatives coordinate with the insurance company that paid out the original claim. DeLind hopes to eventually buy back the piece and return it to public display.
