A Pablo Picasso etching, "Torero," stolen from a Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been recovered in a vacant apartment in the city. Bill DeLind, owner of DeLind Fine Art Appraisals, confirmed the print's authenticity after it was discovered by a landlord cleaning out the apartment.
The print was found hanging on a wall in the vacant unit, covered in dust, according to landlord Tim Dertz. Dertz told WISN-TV that he showed the artwork to an antique dealer friend, who recognized it as a valuable Picasso and potentially the one reported stolen in 2018. Dertz then contacted the police, who subsequently reached out to DeLind.
"When they called me, I was in disbelief," DeLind stated. He noted that the gallery's sticker was still on the back of the framed print, confirming its identity. The artwork remains in police custody while the client who commissioned its sale works with their insurance company.
The etching, one of only 30 known to exist and signed by Picasso, was appraised at between $35,000 and $50,000 in 2018. DeLind believes its value has remained largely stable, though its unique recovery story may now increase its worth.
The Milwaukee Police Department indicated that the statute of limitations for theft and property crimes is generally six years, and the case is still under investigation. The FBI's Milwaukee field office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
DeLind also shared that his former business partner, who passed away in February, had been deeply affected by the theft and had made annual efforts to publicize the case in hopes of the print's return. "He would have been over the moon about this," DeLind said of his late partner.