An investigation conducted by the Bulgarian authorities against art trafficking resulted in the discovery of a never-before-seen painting by Jackson Pollock, one of the biggest names in abstract expressionism of the 20th century, valued at around 50 million euros.
The operation, advanced the Bulgarian news agency BTA, culminated in the arrest of several people on Tuesday, with Sofia prosecutor, Desislava Petrova, not revealing how many people were involved.
The work of art has already been evaluated by experts at the national art gallery in Sofia, proving the authenticity of the painting. As explained by the BTA, an analysis of the fluorescence of the pigments and chemical substances revealed that the techniques used are the same as those used in Pollock's paintings between 1945 and 1950. The painting will continue to be analyzed by specialists in the near future.
The operation was the culmination of an investigation that, say the authorities, is still verifying a possible attempt to illegally sell the painting in Romania.
"This was an international operation that included the participation of Europol, Greece and other countries," added Petar Todorov of the Bulgarian interior ministry.
Jackson Pollock remains one of the most expensive painters ever. The American painter became known as one of the greatest figures of expressionism and abstract art of the 20th century, with his apparently style of painting on large canvases, often resting on the ground, throwing paint or using his own body and dance, to characterize his works.
Pollock died aged 44 in 1956 from complications arising from excessive alcohol consumption. But his artistic legacy continues and there are works by him in the main museums of modern art in the world.
The painting found is not, for the time being, the painter's most expensive. In 2016, investor and tycoon Kenneth C. Griffin bought the composition 'Número 17A', from 1948, for a staggering 200 million dollars (over 180 million euros).