A Picasso print, stolen eight years ago from a Milwaukee gallery, has been discovered in an abandoned apartment. The artwork, titled 'Torero,' was found by a landlord while clearing out a unit after the eviction of a tenant.
Tim Dertz, the landlord, told WISN that he found the print in a back bedroom, hanging on a wall and covered in dust. He noted its unusual placement and said it appeared to have been there for a long time. The recovered piece still bore the DeLind Fine Art Appraisals sticker on its back.
Dertz showed the print to a friend who is an antique dealer, and they identified it as a Picasso. The friend suggested it might be the piece reported stolen from Bill DeLind's gallery in 2018. Dertz then turned the print over to the police, who contacted DeLind.
"I was overwhelmed. I was at a loss for words. It was an overwhelming moment for me," DeLind said. He added that his former business partner, Michael Goforth, who died in February, had been deeply affected by the theft and had called police annually in hopes of its recovery.
The 'Torero' print is one of 30 known to exist signed by the artist. In 2018, it was valued between $35,000 and $50,000 and was on display on consignment. DeLind described the theft as a "very personal affront" and the return as equally personal.
The artwork is currently in police custody while the client who commissioned its sale works with their insurance company. The Milwaukee Police Department indicated that while the statute of limitations for theft is generally six years, the case remains under investigation.