A Pablo Picasso drawing valued at approximately 600,000 euros ($650,000) has vanished during its transport from Madrid to Granada on October 2, where it was scheduled to be exhibited to the public. Spanish police have launched an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the artwork, though authorities have not yet provided additional details about this extraordinary case.
The missing artwork, titled "Still Life with Guitar," was painted by Picasso in 1919 using gouache and pencil on paper, measuring 12.7 x 9.8 centimeters. According to local press reports in Granada, southern Spain, the drawing was supposed to be displayed at the Caja Granada Foundation starting last week as part of a special exhibition. The oil painting represents a significant piece from Picasso's early creative period.
All artworks featured in the Granada exhibition come from private collections, according to a statement released by the event organizers. The Foundation had been preparing to showcase this particular Picasso piece as one of the highlights of their cultural programming, making its disappearance particularly devastating for both the institution and art enthusiasts.
The immense value of Picasso's works makes them frequent targets for art thieves worldwide. In 1976, more than 100 paintings by the Spanish master were stolen in Avignon, southeastern France, in one of the most significant art heists in history. However, authorities eventually recovered the entire collection of stolen canvases, providing some hope for similar cases.
Pablo Picasso, born in 1881 in Malaga, southern Spain, and who died in 1973 in Mougins, southeastern France, is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters in art history. His revolutionary contributions to modern art, including co-founding the Cubist movement, have made his works among the most sought-after and valuable pieces in the international art market, with prices often reaching millions of dollars at auction.
