A rare signed etching by Pablo Picasso that disappeared from a Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been recovered after six years.
The original 1949 print of 'Torero' was found by local landlord Tim Dertz while cleaning out a vacant apartment, and was turned over to Milwaukee police on August 5. An authenticator later confirmed it was the same artwork reported stolen from the gallery on February 16, 2018.
Bill DeLind of DeLind Fine Art Appraisals stepped forward as the rightful owner, with the print still bearing his gallery’s sticker.
“It was an overwhelming moment for me,” DeLind said to Associated Press, adding that the artwork could be worth as much as US$50,000.
Art theft, also known as artnapping, involves stealing paintings or other visual art from galleries, museums, or private collections. The stolen pieces are often resold or used as collateral for loans.
Some of the most famous theft cases include the robbery of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 'Mona Lisa' and Edvard Munch's 'The Scream.' And while some masterpieces were swiped for ransom and later returned, the disappearances of others remain a mystery.
If you'd like to learn more about the world's most famous stolen paintings, click through this gallery now.