Stolen Picasso Etching Recovered in Vacant Milwaukee Apartment
An authentic Pablo Picasso etching stolen from a Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been unexpectedly recovered by a local landlord while cleaning out a vacant, dust-covered apartment, according to reports from The Associated Press. The rare signed print, titled “Torero,” was valued between $35,000 and $50,000 at the time of the theft and remains in police custody.
The Discovery Inside a Vacant Apartment
According to CTV News, Milwaukee landlord Tim Dertz found the framed artwork hanging on a wall while clearing out the unit of a tenant who had been evicted. Dertz noticed heavy dust accumulation across the top of the piece, suggesting it had occupied the space for a prolonged period. Realizing it might hold artistic value, Dertz showed the print to an antique dealer friend, who identified it as a Picasso and said it appeared to be the one reported missing years prior. Dertz subsequently surrendered the artwork to the Milwaukee Police Department.
Bill DeLind received a phone call from law enforcement last week asking him to inspect the recovered property. DeLind immediately identified the “Torero” print, pointing to the original DeLind Fine Art Appraisals sticker still affixed to the reverse side of the frame. “When they called me, I was in disbelief,” DeLind stated to The New York Post, describing the moment as an overwhelming full-circle experience.
Valuation, Insurance, and Ongoing Police Inquiries
The “Torero” etching is recognized as one of 30 known copies signed by Picasso. At the time of the 2018 theft, the piece carried an appraisal value between $35,000 and $50,000. DeLind noted that while the baseline market value has likely remained steady, the artwork’s recovery narrative could push its valuation toward the higher end of that bracket.
The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed via email that the case remains under investigation, though standard statutes of limitations for property crimes and theft in the jurisdiction generally span six years. Meanwhile, an FBI spokesperson in Milwaukee declined to comment on the matter. The artwork stays with local police while the client who originally commissioned the piece for sale through DeLind’s gallery coordinates insurance protocols.
DeLind reflected on his late business partner, who passed away in February and had been profoundly distressed by the 2018 crime. According to gallery accounts, his partner routinely contacted authorities on every annual anniversary of the theft to request renewed public appeals. “He would have been over the moon about this,” DeLind said.
*Disclaimer: The views and cultural analyses presented in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Information regarding legal disputes or financial data is based on available public records.*