A valuable Pablo Picasso artwork has vanished during transportation from Madrid to Granada, Spain, raising serious questions about art security protocols. The work on paper, titled "Still Life with Guitar" from 1919, disappeared somewhere between its departure point in Pinto, Madrid, and its intended destination at the CajaGranada Cultural Center. The piece, measuring half a page in size and insured for €600,000 (approximately $700,000), belongs to an unnamed private collector and was among 57 artworks being transported for an exhibition.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the theft have puzzled investigators and art world officials alike. According to Spanish newspaper El País, the transportation vehicle carrying the 57 pieces made an unusual overnight stop less than 20 miles from Granada, despite the journey from Madrid typically taking only four hours. During this stop, two people aboard the transport vehicle allegedly took turns watching over the valuable cargo, though their vigilance apparently proved insufficient to prevent the theft.

The missing artwork was part of a larger collection destined for the exhibition "Still Life: The Eternity of the Inert" at the CajaGranada Cultural Center. When the artworks arrived at their destination, all 56 other pieces were successfully delivered and are now on display. However, workers at the cultural center discovered the notable absence of the Picasso work only after conducting a thorough inventory on Monday morning, several days after the weekend delivery.

Complications in the discovery process arose from organizational issues during the delivery. According to the exhibition manager, not all packaging was properly numbered, making it impossible to conduct a comprehensive check without unpacking each item. The delivery took place in a video-surveilled area, but the lack of proper numbering systems hindered immediate detection of the missing piece. The artworks remained at the CajaGranada Cultural Center over the weekend before staff conducted the careful inventory that revealed the theft.

The CajaGranada Foundation has issued a statement expressing full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. "We have put ourselves at the disposal of those investigating, and we have complete faith that the case will be properly resolved," the foundation stated. Despite their confidence, nearly two weeks have passed since the work went missing, and no arrests have been made in connection with the presumed theft.

Police investigators are working to determine the exact timing and location where the artwork disappeared during its journey. The unusual overnight stop so close to the final destination has become a focal point of the investigation, as transportation experts typically complete the Madrid-to-Granada route without stopping. Attempts to contact the logistics company responsible for the transport have been unsuccessful, according to El País reporters covering the story.

The theft highlights ongoing concerns about security measures for valuable artwork during transportation between museums and cultural institutions. The case remains active, with authorities continuing their investigation into what appears to be a carefully planned theft of one of the world's most recognizable artists' works. The art world is watching closely as investigators work to recover the missing Picasso and bring those responsible to justice.