A remarkable painting, stolen nearly five decades ago, has been found hanging on the wall of a regional museum in the Netherlands. The discovery was made possible through the efforts of an art detective and an antiques magazine.
A Long-Lost Painting Resurfaces
The 17-centimeter-wide artwork by Pieter Brueghel the Younger depicts a farmer’s wife holding burning coals in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. It is believed to have been stolen from a Polish museum in 1974, reportedly by secret service agents.
Renowned art detective Arthur Brand, who confirmed the painting's current location in the Netherlands, expressed his surprise at the find. “When a piece is missing for half a century, chances of recovery are slim. The longer it remains lost, the less likely it is to resurface. This was an incredible stroke of luck,” he said.
A Mysterious Heist
Originally housed at the National Museum in Gdańsk, Poland, the 17th-century Flemish masterpiece was stolen on April 24, 1974. The theft was uncovered when a museum cleaner accidentally hit the painting against the wall, breaking its frame and revealing that it had been replaced with a photograph. A sketch by Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck, titled The Crucifixion, had also been swapped for a copy.
Both stolen works remained on Poland’s list of missing art for decades. Then, last year, the Dutch magazine Vind (Find) reported on a new exhibition at the Museum Gouda, featuring a Brueghel painting on loan from a private collector.
How the Painting Was Identified
Journalists from Vind compared the loaned painting with an old black-and-white photograph from Poland and contacted Arthur Brand to investigate. After examining five similar works by Brueghel and coordinating with Dutch and Polish authorities, Brand successfully identified the painting as the stolen original.
Poland Seeks the Painting’s Return
Following this discovery, Poland has officially requested the painting’s return. Brand described the artwork as “truly impressive,” adding that its rediscovery holds deep significance for Poland. “This is a spectacular moment—this painting has been on Poland’s missing art list for 50 years,” he told The Guardian.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges of recovering stolen art and the importance of international collaboration in preserving cultural heritage.
