Beach in Pourville

"Beach in Pourville" is a stunning painting by the renowned French artist Claude Monet. Completed in 1882, it is part of a series of oil-on-canvas works depicting the picturesque coastal town of Pourville-sur-Mer, near Dieppe, France. As a leading figure in the Impressionist movement, Monet captured the essence of the seaside with his masterful brushstrokes.

In 1906, the painting found a new home at the National Museum in Poznań, Poland, where it became a prized possession and held the distinction of being the only Monet painting on public display in the country.

However, in September 2000, the museum fell victim to a shocking theft. The original painting was stolen and replaced with a cleverly crafted copy painted on cardboard. The theft came to light on September 19, 2000, with the stolen artwork valued at over $1 million.

The investigation revealed that the thief was a man who had been seen sketching paintings in the museum. After a prolonged search, the painting was finally recovered on January 12, 2010. Authorities arrested a 41-year-old man in Olkusz, Poland, who was suspected of creating the forgery. The breakthrough came thanks to fingerprints and other evidence found at the crime scene.

The recovery of "Beach in Pourville" marked a significant moment for art enthusiasts and the museum, bringing an end to a decade-long mystery surrounding the cherished Monet masterpiece.