A Pablo Picasso print that disappeared from a Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been recovered after turning up in an unexpected place.
The artwork, titled “Torero,” was found hanging inside a vacant Milwaukee apartment after a tenant was evicted. The discovery brought an eight year mystery to an unexpected end and gave the artwork a remarkable story of its own.
Picasso Print Disappeared From Milwaukee Gallery
The 1949 Picasso etching was stolen from DeLind Fine Art Appraisals in downtown Milwaukee on February 16, 2018.
The print was displayed at the gallery when it disappeared during business hours. At the time, the artwork was estimated to be worth between $35,000 and $50,000.
The theft left gallery owner Bill DeLind believing he might never see the piece again. The artwork was also registered with stolen art databases as investigators worked to locate it.
Landlord Makes Surprising Discovery
The breakthrough came after Milwaukee landlord Tim Dertz was cleaning out an apartment following an eviction.
While going through the vacant unit, Dertz noticed a framed print hanging in a back bedroom. The artwork was covered with a noticeable layer of dust, suggesting it had been hanging there for a long time.
Dertz brought the piece to an antique dealer friend, who recognized it as a possible Picasso and connected it to the artwork reported stolen from DeLind’s gallery.
The print was then turned over to Milwaukee police.
The Artwork Was Still in Remarkable Shape
One of the biggest surprises for DeLind was the condition of the recovered print.
The sticker from DeLind Fine Art Appraisals was still attached to the back of the frame, matching the sticker that had been placed there before the artwork disappeared.
DeLind later examined the piece and confirmed that it was the original Picasso etching rather than a reproduction.
A Rare Picasso With a Six Figure Story
“Torero” is an etching and aquatint created by Picasso in 1949. Only 30 signed examples are known to exist, making the recovered print particularly rare.
The Milwaukee print is number nine in the series and carries Picasso’s signature in green crayon.
When the artwork was stolen in 2018, its estimated value was between $35,000 and $50,000. DeLind has suggested that the unusual recovery story could make the piece even more valuable today.
DeLind Never Expected to See It Again
When Milwaukee police contacted DeLind after recovering the artwork, he initially struggled to believe the news.
After examining the print, he confirmed that the missing Picasso had finally returned.
The recovery was especially meaningful because DeLind’s former business partner, Michael Goforth, had remained deeply affected by the theft. Goforth died in February 2026 and had reportedly contacted police each year around the anniversary of the disappearance in hopes that the artwork would eventually be found.
Police Investigation Continues
Milwaukee police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the artwork’s disappearance and recovery.
The person who initially brought the artwork to a police station was described by authorities as a community member. Police have not publicly explained how the print moved from the gallery to the apartment or identified anyone connected to its disappearance.
The artwork remains connected to an ownership and insurance process. According to reporting from The Associated Press, the piece was commissioned for sale through the gallery, and an insurance company had paid on the loss.
An Eight Year Mystery Comes Full Circle
The recovery of “Torero” is an unusual ending to a Milwaukee art theft that had remained unsolved for years.
A valuable Picasso vanished from a downtown gallery in broad daylight and eventually resurfaced in a dusty apartment where its significance apparently went unnoticed for years.
Now, after eight years, the rare print is back in the hands of authorities while its ownership is sorted out.
For DeLind, the unexpected discovery represents something he once thought was impossible: seeing the missing Picasso again.