Khaberni - The Brazilian city of Sao Paulo experienced a daring robbery, after two armed men managed to steal eight rare artworks by the famous French painter Henri Matisse, along with at least five engravings by the prominent Brazilian artist Candido Portinari, sparking widespread shock in cultural circles.
The Brazilian authorities stated that the thieves entered the "Mario de Andrade" library, the second largest library in the country, through the main entrance at exactly ten o'clock in the morning on Sunday, before brandishing weapons in the face of a security guard and an elderly couple who were touring the building at the time.
After the heist, they left the same way they entered and headed on foot to the nearest subway station, according to the BBC network.
The initial investigations indicate that the thieves specifically targeted the "From Book to Museum" exhibition, which was held in cooperation between the Mario de Andrade Library and the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paulo, and specifically on its last day.
The library management confirmed that the building is equipped with cameras that use facial recognition technology, which helped the police identify one of the suspects, while efforts are ongoing to identify the second. The police announced the discovery of the getaway car used in the operation.
The "Folha de Sao Paulo" newspaper revealed that among the missing works was an original collage designed specifically by Matisse to be included in the pages of his rare art book "Jazz", a work of high artistic value considered "priceless" by experts, especially since Matisse is considered one of the major artists of the 20th century, and his works are a main axis in the history of modern art.
The stolen items also included engravings by Portinari, specifically prepared for a special edition of the novel "Plantation Boy" (Menino de Engenho) by the Brazilian writer Jose Lins do Rego. Portinari is known as one of the leading figures of Brazilian modernism, with works that depict the lives of workers and the rural environment.
The police continue their investigations, while the fate of the precious artworks remains unknown amid fears of their permanent loss.
