“It was kind of in a weird spot hanging on a wall,” Dertz said.
“It looked like it had been there for a long, long time because it had tons of dust across the top of it.”
The etching, Torero (1949), was reported stolen from a gallery in downtown Milwaukee on February 16, 2018. Photo / Milwaukee Police Department
Dertz showed it to an antique dealer friend who recognised it as a Picasso and said it appeared to be the one reported stolen in 2018. Dertz handed it over to police.
Shortly after news of the recovery became public, Bill DeLind of DeLind Fine Art Appraisals came forward to claim the artwork, one of only 30 known signed prints of Torero.
“When they called me, I was in disbelief,” DeLind told the Associated Press.
A DeLind Fine Art Appraisals sticker was reportedly still attached to the frame, helping identify the piece.
“I was at a loss for words. It was an overwhelming moment for me.”
DeLind estimated the artwork could be worth US$50,000 ($84,000).
Pablo Picasso in his Paris studio.
The recovery carried added emotional significance for DeLind, whose business partner died in February. According to DeLind, his late colleague had contacted police annually on the anniversary of the theft, urging them not to give up hope of finding the missing print.
“He would have been over the moon about this,” DeLind said.
Milwaukee police thanked the resident who returned the artwork.
“The Milwaukee Police Department is grateful that this community member recognised the etching print and did the right thing and returned it,” the department said.
“We are better together.”