Rare Matisse and Portinari Prints Stolen in São Paulo Library Heist
In a troubling incident that has unsettled 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, a theft that has left both officials and visitors in shock.
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 surveillance systems and an increased police presence in the area, the thieves managed to carry out their operation successfully.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the stolen prints, including those by Matisse (1869-1954) and Portinari (1903-1962). It is noteworthy that the five Portinari prints were illustrations from the 1959 book "Menino de Engenho."
This incident raises serious concerns about the security of art collections and highlights the fate of these rare pieces that embody a significant cultural heritage.
