A lost Flemish masterpiece by Pieter Brueghel the Younger was revealed to be hanging in a Dutch museum, having been stolen from Poland in 1974. The painting's rediscovery was facilitated by art detective Arthur Brand and the Dutch magazine Vind, which traced the painting through a black-and-white photograph. This piece had been on Poland's most-wanted list for decades following an expert theft in a communist regime. The painting's return represents a significant moment for Poland as they recover a culturally important artifact after 50 years.
The longer it takes, the more likely you never see it again. It was all pure luck that everything fell into place.
It's quite spectacular. And the story behind it is quite spectacular too. It's a great moment because of how much it means for Poland.
The theft had been an expert job, said Brand. Not many people dared to steal something from a museum in a communist dictatorship.
After locating five similar paintings by Brueghel... Brand made a match and Poland has now officially requested the artworks' return.
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