A Picasso print that was stolen from a Milwaukee gallery in 2018 has been discovered in an abandoned apartment, eight years after its theft. The artwork, titled 'Torero,' is one of 30 known prints signed by the artist.
Tim Dertz, a landlord, found the print while clearing out an apartment after the tenant was evicted. He told WISN that the artwork was in a back bedroom, hanging on a wall and covered in dust. The print still had an appraisal sticker from Bill DeLind's gallery on the back.
"It was indeed mine," DeLind said. "It came back full circle."
Dertz initially showed the print to an antique dealer friend, who recognized it as a Picasso and believed it to be the one reported stolen in 2018. Dertz then turned the print over to the police, who contacted DeLind.
"When they called me, I was in disbelief," DeLind stated. He mentioned that his former business partner, Michael Goforth, who died in February, was deeply affected by the theft and had contacted the police annually in hopes of recovering the artwork.
In 2018, the 'Torero' print was valued at $35,000 to $50,000 and was on consignment at the gallery. DeLind described the initial theft as a "personal affront" and expressed that its return felt equally personal.
The recovered print is currently in police custody. The client who commissioned the sale is working with their insurance company. The Milwaukee Police Department indicated that while the statute of limitations for theft and property crimes is generally six years, the case remains under investigation.