Picasso's Naked Woman Found In Iraq

Saddam Hussein looted Kuwait after he invaded that country in 1990. His army took as much as they could possibly carry back to Iraq, including numerous priceless treasures, such as Picasso's Naked Woman.

It was found:

Special forces have recovered a stolen Picasso and arrested a man planning to sell the painting during a raid of his house in southern Iraq, Iraqi police said Wednesday.

The painting, "The Naked Woman," apparently had been among the artwork looted from Kuwait during Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion, said police spokesman Maj. Muthana Khalid.

It was seized Tuesday during a raid on the house belonging to the suspect near the mainly Shiite city of Hillah, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Baghdad.

It was looted from the Museum of Kuwait, and bore markings from the museum. Based on the photo, it looks like the painting was damaged by those taking and storing it; particularly by folding the painting, which caused serious creasing of the painting.

I can only hope that art restorers can bring this painting back to its former glory.

Note too that this painting is quite unlike many of Picasso's other works in that it doesn't portray his signature Cubist view of the world.

The painting is believed to be worth $10 million. The guy nabbed with the painting was trying to get $450,000.