A Stolen Picasso Print Worth $50,000 Reclaimed in Wisconsin

A painting by Pablo Picasso valued at $50,000 has been reclaimed by its owner after it was discovered in a vacant apartment in Wisconsin. The gallery owner, Bill Delindo, had thought the print was lost forever when it was stolen from his Milwaukee gallery back in 2018.

Recently, Delindo received a phone call from the police regarding the print. A landlord found the artwork while cleaning out an apartment. Delindo immediately recognized it as “Torero,” one of only 30 signed prints by Picasso.

“I was overwhelmed,” Delindo expressed. “I was speechless. It was such an incredible moment.” He felt a sense of closure, adding, “It was definitely mine. I’ve come full circle.”

The landlord, named Tim Darts, discovered the print while clearing out the apartment of a tenant he had to evict. “It was in a strange spot on the wall,” Darts recounted. “There was so much dust on it, so it looked like it had been there forever.” After recognizing the print’s significance, he showed it to a friend, an antiques dealer, who confirmed it was a genuine Picasso. Darts then handed it over to the police, who got in touch with Delindo.

The Milwaukee Police Department noted that, although the statute of limitations for theft typically spans six years, the investigation into how the tenant acquired the print is still ongoing. Detectives are still trying to figure out whether the evicted tenant was involved in the theft.

Delindo mentioned that the print was valued at between $35,000 and $50,000 when stolen, and he believes it holds the same value today. The police currently have the artwork in their possession, and discussions about claims with insurance companies are underway. Generally, if a claim for a stolen item is made and compensated, the policyholder might need to pay back the amount received.

Delindo recalled how his former business partner, who sadly passed away earlier this year, was deeply affected by the theft. Each year, on the anniversary, he reached out to the police to keep the case alive, hoping for the return of the Picasso. “He would have been thrilled about this,” Delindo reflected. “It was truly special for him.”