A Picasso print, identified as the 'Torero' print, has been found by a landlord in Milwaukee, eight years after it was stolen from a local art gallery. Bill DeLind, the gallery owner, confirmed the artwork's authenticity after police contacted him last week.
The print, one of 30 known to exist signed by Picasso, was discovered by landlord Tim Dertz while he was cleaning a vacant apartment. Dertz told WISN-TV that the print was hanging in an unusual spot and appeared to have been there for a long time, covered in dust.
DeLind recognised the print immediately, noting that a sticker from his DeLind Fine Art Appraisals was still on the back. The print was appraised at between $35,000 and $50,000 in 2018, and DeLind estimates its value may now be closer to $50,000 due to its story.
The Milwaukee police department stated on Friday that the statute of limitations for theft and property crimes is generally six years, and the case remains under investigation. The artwork is currently with Milwaukee police while the client who commissioned it for sale works with their insurance company.