Robbery of Rare Matisse and Portinari Prints Shakes São Paulo Art Community

In a troubling incident that has sent shockwaves through the art community in São Paulo, city officials announced on Sunday the theft of eight prints by French artist Henri Matisse, a leading figure in Fauvism, along with five prints by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari from the Mario de Andrade Library.

Local reports indicate that two armed men entered the library and took the artworks without encountering any resistance, leaving both officials and visitors stunned.

The prints were part of an exhibition titled "From Book to Museum," organized by the library in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo.

Despite the library being equipped with a surveillance system and security cameras, and having increased security presence in the area, the thieves successfully executed their plan.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the stolen prints, which include works by Matisse (1869-1954) and Portinari (1903-1962). It has been noted that the five Portinari prints were illustrations for the book "Menino de Engenho," published in 1959.

This incident underscores vulnerabilities in the security of art pieces and raises questions about the fate of these culturally significant works.