In a shocking daytime robbery, two armed men have stolen eight engravings by renowned French artist Matisse, along with at least five engravings by celebrated Brazilian painter Cândido Portinari, from a library in São Paulo.
The incident occurred at the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade when the thieves held a security guard and an elderly couple at gunpoint, making a swift escape on foot.
The robbery took place just as the exhibition, titled *From Book to Museum*, was concluding on Sunday. The thieves entered the library around 10 AM and left through the same entrance, presumably heading towards a nearby metro station.
This heist follows another high-profile incident at the Louvre in Paris, which saw priceless jewels snatched by daring thieves only months earlier. Officials confirmed that the stolen Matisse works are part of a collaborative exhibition with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art.
Despite the library's advanced security system, which includes facial recognition technology, the thieves have not yet been apprehended, although local authorities claim they have identified them. The mayor of São Paulo expressed concern over the ability of the culprits to evade capture.
Among the stolen pieces is a collage from Matisse's limited-edition art book *Jazz*, valued as incalculable by art critics. Portinari’s engravings, linked to a special edition of *Menino de Engenho* by Brazilian novelist José Lins do Rego, were also taken.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident, with the art community left reeling at this brazen attack on cultural heritage.
