A signed Pablo Picasso etching, titled "Torero," which was stolen from a Milwaukee art gallery in February 2018, has been recovered. The artwork resurfaced after a landlord found it while clearing out a vacant apartment.
The Milwaukee Police Department was alerted on August 5 when a landlord, Tim Dertz, brought the print to their attention. Dertz discovered the etching while cleaning out an apartment following an eviction in the Bay View neighborhood.
An authenticator later confirmed that the recovered print was indeed the "Torero" etching reported stolen from DeLind Fine Art Appraisals on North Jefferson Street. The gallery's owner, Bill DeLind, confirmed it was his stolen artwork, noting that his gallery sticker was still on the back of the framed piece.
Dertz initially found the artwork hanging on a wall in the apartment and noted it was covered in dust, suggesting it had been there for a significant period. He showed it to a friend who deals in antiques, and the friend recognized it as potentially being the Picasso stolen from DeLind's gallery.
"Torero" is one of approximately 30 known copies signed by Picasso. When it was stolen, the print was appraised between $35,000 and $50,000. DeLind suggested that its value might now be closer to $50,000 due to the story of its recovery.
The artwork remains in police custody while insurance matters are being handled for the client who had commissioned its sale through DeLind's gallery. The Milwaukee Police Department stated that the statute of limitations for theft and property crimes is typically six years, but the investigation into the theft remains open.