Picasso Etching Stolen in 2018 Recovered in Milwaukee

An original 1949 Pablo Picasso etching titled "Torero" has been recovered in Milwaukee, eight years after it was stolen from DeLind Fine Art Appraisals in February 2018. The artwork was discovered by a local landlord hanging in a vacant apartment following a tenant eviction. The print, valued at approximately $50,000 USD, is one of only 30 known copies produced using a sugar lift etching process at the Mourlot Studio in Paris. It is signed by Picasso in green crayon and still featured its original gallery sticker on the frame when authorities took possession of it. The theft of this rare artwork made international headlines and prompted the FBI to add the piece to its National Stolen Art File. Experts suggest that the notoriety surrounding the high-profile heist could potentially increase the market value of the work. The recovery of the "Torero" etching brings closure to a long-standing mystery for the local art community. Gallery owner Bill DeLind authenticated the work shortly after its recovery. DeLind and his late business partner Michael Goforth had originally displayed the piece in a lobby case at a downtown building. Goforth, who passed away earlier this year, had reportedly spent the last six years calling the police on the anniversary of the crime to maintain the investigation's momentum. Surveillance cameras at the gallery famously failed to capture the perpetrator during the brief afternoon window when the theft occurred. The community member who found the print eventually delivered it to a Milwaukee Police Department station on August 5. The artwork, created on black ink woven paper, represents a significant piece in Picasso's oeuvre from the post-war period. The sugar lift etching technique involves applying a liquid mixture of sugar and ink to a plate, which is then etched. This method allows for a unique texture and tonal range, making each print in the limited edition distinct. The recovery of such a high-profile stolen artwork is a notable event in the art world, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat art theft and recover stolen cultural heritage.