Picasso Aquatint "The Smoker"

Pablo Picasso, The Smoker

RECOVERED TODAY BY ART RECOVERY INTERNATIONAL:

A Picasso aquatint stolen in 1990 from a prominent Texas oil executive. The artwork appeared for sale at Bonhams in 2023 and we quickly had it pulled from the sale.

Within a few weeks, Art Recovery negotiated an unconditional surrender and release with the consignor only to have the FBI Art Crime Team swoop and take over the criminal investigation (the Picasso had been listed on the FBI National Stolen Art File, Interpol, and private databases).

THREE YEARS LATER...the FBI investigation has concluded (no arrests) and the artwork has been released to Art Recovery International on behalf of the Insurer.

The Picasso is being returned to the heir of the theft victim through their Houston lawyer. Sure, we could have recovered this back in 2023, but when the FBI says, "hold on, we want to look into this further", you don't argue.