Picasso Etching Stolen from Milwaukee Gallery in 2018 Discovered in Vacant Apartment

A valuable Pablo Picasso etching that disappeared from a Milwaukee art gallery nearly a decade ago has surfaced in a vacant apartment, recovered through the diligence of a local landlord. The 1949 etching, titled “Torero,” was brought to Milwaukee Police Department District Four on Aug. 5 after the individual who discovered it suspected the work had been stolen. Police confirmed the next day that the print matched the artwork reported missing from a gallery in the 700 block of North Jefferson Street on Feb. 16, 2018.

Landlord Tim Dertz found the framed etching while clearing out a Bay View-area apartment following an eviction, with the piece still hanging on a wall and visibly covered in dust. Recognizing the potential significance of the work, Dertz consulted with an antique dealer friend, who identified it as a Picasso and suggested it could be the stolen artwork from Bill DeLind’s gallery. Dertz subsequently handed over the print to police, who contacted DeLind to verify its authenticity.

DeLind immediately recognized the recovered “Torero,” which is among only 30 known copies bearing Picasso’s signature. His gallery’s authentication sticker remained affixed to the back of the framed artwork, confirming the connection to his business. The print was originally appraised at between $35,000 and $50,000 when stolen, with current estimates potentially reaching $50,000 given the circumstances of its recovery.

The piece remains in police custody while the original client who commissioned it for sale through DeLind’s gallery resolves insurance-related matters. Milwaukee police noted that the statute of limitations for theft and property crimes is generally six years, though the investigation continues. DeLind’s former business partner, who passed away in February, had made annual calls to police on the theft anniversary to request renewed publicity for the case.