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The short version

  • A Milwaukee landlord identified a missing Pablo Picasso etching hanging in a bedroom of a recently vacated apartment.
  • The artwork, valued between $35,000 and $50,000 at the time of its 2018 theft, was confirmed authentic by the original gallery owner.
  • Police are investigating the recovery despite the statute of limitations for property crimes in Wisconsin typically expiring after six years.

A Pablo Picasso etching that vanished from a Milwaukee art gallery more than eight years ago has been recovered, turning up unexpectedly in a residential apartment. The discovery occurred when Timothy Dertz, the landlord of the unit, inspected the property after a tenant departed. He noticed an unusual piece of artwork hanging in a back bedroom, positioned behind a closed door and covered in a thick layer of dust. The odd placement suggested the item had been concealed or forgotten for a significant period.

Dertz sought professional advice regarding the print, which depicted a bullfighter. An antique dealer examined the piece and identified a signature rendered in green crayon reading 'Picasso.' Further investigation revealed the work to be 'Torero,' an etching created by Pablo Picasso in 1949. The identification linked the artwork directly to a high-profile theft that had baffled local authorities and art enthusiasts since February 2018.

News Journal

The original disappearance occurred at DeLind Fine Art Appraisals, a small gallery co-owned by Bill DeLind and Michael Goforth. On the morning of the theft, DeLind observed the etching hanging in its usual spot. Hours later, Goforth noticed it was missing. The gallery lacked functional security cameras at the time, leaving no visual record of how the item was removed. According to accounts from the incident, an individual simply entered the shop during business hours and took the piece without detection.

The loss was deeply felt by the gallery owners, who described their business as open and community-focused. Goforth, who passed away earlier this year, had expressed distress over the violation of trust implied by the theft. In the years following the disappearance, DeLind and Goforth maintained a persistent search effort. They offered rewards that escalated from $5,000 to $10,000 and regularly contacted law enforcement and media outlets on the anniversary of the crime to keep the case visible.

Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI’s art crime team, had previously advised the gallery owners to remain patient. He noted that stolen artworks often resurface eventually, either through market transactions or other channels, allowing authorities to trace their origins. The recovery in Milwaukee aligns with this pattern, demonstrating how long-lost items can reappear in private collections or residential settings years after their initial disappearance.

Upon learning the history of the artwork, Dertz experienced significant anxiety about his potential legal liability for possessing stolen property. He spent a night pacing and worrying before deciding to act. The following morning, he surrendered the etching to the Milwaukee Police Department. Law enforcement officials praised his decision to turn over the item, noting that he recognized the print’s significance and acted responsibly.

Bill DeLind examined the returned piece and confirmed its authenticity, expressing astonishment that it had survived eight years in perfect condition. The recovery presents complex legal and financial questions. An insurance company had compensated the gallery for the loss in 2018, making them the current rightful owner of the physical artwork. DeLind has expressed hope that he might be permitted to display the etching in the gallery temporarily, allowing visitors to see it restored to its original location.

The case also highlights jurisdictional nuances regarding property crimes. Police indicated that the statute of limitations for theft and property offenses in Wisconsin is generally six years. Since the theft occurred in 2018, the window for prosecution may have closed. Despite this legal constraint, authorities stated that the incident remains under investigation, suggesting that procedural or evidentiary factors may still allow for further inquiry into how the artwork was stolen and how it ended up in a Milwaukee apartment.

Sources behind this briefing

Go to the original reporting

  • Smithsonian Magazine↗A Landlord Found a Peculiar Print Hanging in a Vacant Apartment. It Turned Out to Be an Original Picasso That Had Been Missing for Eight Years