Picasso etching stolen in 2018 found in vacant apartment after landlord’s discovery
A Picasso etching stolen from Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been recovered after a landlord found it in a dust-covered apartment, reviving a six-year-old theft investigation.
A rare Pablo Picasso etching, believed to be lost forever after its theft in 2018, has been recovered in Milwaukee in a surprising turn of events. The framed artwork, titled "Torero," was found by the landlord of an evicted tenant's vacant apartment, while they were cleaning the premises. The piece was recognized as the signed Picasso etching due to its unique characteristics and the original sticker from the gallery owner's business, DeLind Fine Art Appraisals, still visible on the back of the frame.
Local landlord Tim Dertz discovered the artwork hanging in an unusual spot inside the apartment, suspecting it might be valuable. The etching, valued between $35,000-$50,000 at the time of its theft, remains in the custody of Milwaukee police while its owner works on insurance matters. The gallery owner, Bill DeLind, who received the Picasso from the police, expressed his overwhelming joy at the artwork's recovery, saying it brought tears to his eyes.
DeLind's late business partner had never given up hope of recovering the Picasso, and would contact the police annually on the anniversary of the theft, urging them to publicize the case. The investigation into the theft remains ongoing, despite Wisconsin's six-year statute of limitations for theft and property crimes.
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