An original Pablo Picasso print stolen from a Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been recovered after a citizen handed it over to police. The artwork, valued between $35,000 and $50,000, spent eight years hanging inside a home until a visitor grew suspicious of its origins and brought it to authorities.
The recovered piece is Torero, an etching and aquatint created by Picasso in 1949. It is number nine of a limited edition of 30 copies signed by the artist. The artwork disappeared on February 16, 2018, from DeLind Fine Art Appraisals, a gallery located in downtown Milwaukee. Gallery owner Bill DeLind explained at the time that the print hung in the building lobby and was taken during business hours.
Police made little progress in the initial investigation. There were no working security cameras inside the gallery, and recordings from surrounding areas failed to identify any suspects. The insurance company offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the work, but the case lost momentum over the years.
Discovery in south Milwaukee home
On August 5, 2026, a citizen walked into a Milwaukee police station with a print they suspected was stolen. The next day, a specialist confirmed that the artwork was indeed Torero, the Picasso print missing since 2018. According to local news reports, the piece had hung for years inside a home in south Milwaukee. A person who saw the print suspected its origin, researched its provenance, and brought it to authorities. The Milwaukee Police Department released a statement expressing gratitude that the community member recognized the print and did the right thing by returning it.
After being notified, Bill DeLind went to inspect the artwork and confirmed it was the print stolen eight years earlier. The piece still bore an identifying sticker from his gallery. DeLind told local media that eight years had passed and he never thought he would see it again. He explained that the print had suffered almost no damage, remaining protected by its original frame and glass. DeLind said the piece was in perfect condition and appeared as though someone had simply taken it from the wall, moved it to another location, and hung it there during all those years.
Unsolved questions and ownership
The recovery of Torero resolves one of the central mysteries surrounding the 2018 theft, but key questions remain. Authorities still do not know who stole the print or how it arrived at the home where it was found.
Furthermore, the artwork may not be returned to DeLind Fine Art Appraisals. The insurance company compensated the gallery for the loss following the theft and is now the legal owner of the print, meaning it will determine the final destination of the piece.
