The work in question is "Torero," created by Picasso in 1949 using lithography and etching techniques. It is considered quite rare: the artist produced only 30 copies. The piece was stolen in February 2018 from the DeLind Fine Art Appraisals gallery in Milwaukee. The theft occurred in broad daylight: the perpetrator took advantage of the gallery being open to visitors, removed the work from the wall, and fled. The FBI was involved in the investigation, but for a long time, the whereabouts of "Torero" could not be established. An unexpected turn occurred eight years later. The owner of a rental property was cleaning out a vacant apartment in the southern part of Milwaukee and discovered the artwork there. After consulting with experts, the find was handed over to the police. An examination confirmed that it was indeed the stolen work by Picasso. Remarkably, it had suffered almost no damage over the eight years. "Torero" had remained under glass and in its original frame, which helped it stay in excellent condition. Gallery owner William DeLind stated that he had almost lost hope of ever recovering the missing piece. For him, the discovery was particularly emotional also because his longtime business partner, who was very eager to see the return of the work, passed away earlier this year. However, it is likely that punishing the person who committed the theft will not be possible. In Wisconsin, the statute of limitations for such crimes is six years, and by the time the work was found, it had already expired. The police are not revealing the identity of the person who handed the find over to law enforcement. Now, the future of the artwork will be determined by the insurance company, which paid compensation to the owners after the theft.
