Spanish authorities are investigating the disappearance of Pablo Picasso’s 1919 work “Still Life with Guitar”, a €600,000 gouache and pencil painting that vanished while being transported from Madrid to Granada for an exhibition at the CajaGranada Foundation.
The small piece, measuring just 12.7cm x 9.8cm, was scheduled to be displayed in the show Still Life: The Eternity of the Inert but was discovered missing upon unpacking.
According to the foundation, the delivery van arrived from Madrid on October 3, and although some artworks were not properly numbered, the shipment was signed off. The painting’s absence was noticed on October 6, after staff unpacked the exhibits under video surveillance. Spanish media reports suggest the van may have stopped overnight near Granada, with two crew members alternating watch duties.
In a statement, the foundation confirmed that it has “full confidence the case will be properly resolved” and is cooperating with the Policía Nacional.
Art crime experts note that Picasso’s works are frequent targets for theft due to their immense value and recognizability. As art historian Dr. Elena Ruiz observed, “Picasso’s global fame makes even his smallest sketches priceless, and perilously attractive to thieves.”
The investigation remains ongoing as Spanish police trace the painting’s last known movements and examine potential security lapses.
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