The São Paulo Civil Police has just recovered eight prints by Henri Matisse that had been missing since the theft at the Mário de Andrade Library last year. The recovery brings months of searching to a close and returns pricelessartistic treasures to the city of São Paulo .
The crime occurred on December 7, 2025, when two armed men broke into the library and stole the prints that were part of the exhibition “From Book to Museum: MAM São Paulo and the Mário de Andrade Library.” Since then, the crime has been under investigation by the 1st Precinct of the Special Unit for Combating Organized Crime (Cerco) of the PCSP.
Location of the Artworks and Arrest of a Suspect in the ABC Region
The investigation into the theft at the Mário de Andrade Library led police to the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo, in the Metropolitan Region. There, the team found and seized the eight prints from the 1947 “Jazz” series.
During the police operation, authorities arrested a suspect in the act. The recovered pieces will undergo forensic examination to assess their condition before being officially returned to the institution’s collection.
The historical value and the return to the municipal collection
The “Jazz” series represents one of the most important milestones in Henri Matisse’s late period, featuring extensive use of collages and cutouts of colored paper. With the conclusion of the search, the eight prints have been returned to São Paulo’s public collection.
Following the theft, the Mário de Andrade Library strengthened its security protocols, expanding training for the security firm and increasing the number of security guards. In celebration of the return, the Municipal Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy, Totó Parente, stated that “the works belong to the city and to the memory of São Paulo residents” and should once again fulfill their cultural purpose.
