Proof of life: Photos emerge of stolen Van Gogh painting

A Dutch art sleuth has received “proof-of-life” photos of a Vincent van Gogh painting Arthur Brand, an art detective with a long track record of recovering stolen works, said Thursday that he received photos recently and that y have been circulating in Mafia circles.

Singer Laren museum, from which painting was stolen in a brazen smash-and-grab burglary on March 30, did t immediately return a call seeking comment on photos.

One of photos show painting, “ Parson Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884,” flanked by a May 30 copy of international edition of New York Times and a book about a thief who in 2002 stole two Van Gogh paintings from Amsterdam museum dedicated to Dutch master. Times front p features a story about art thief.

second photo shows back of painting with a sticker bearing name Vincent van Gogh, dates 1853-1890 and handwritten text including name of painting in Dutch.

25-by-57-centimeter (10-by-22-inch) oil on paper painting shows a person standing in a garden surrounded by trees with a church tower in background.

Van Gogh worked on it when he had moved back to his family in a rural area of Nerlands and painted life he saw re, including his famous work “ Potato Eaters,” in mostly somber tones.

Later, he moved to sourn France, where he developed a far more colorful, vibrant style of painting as his health declined before his death in 1890.

Brand said he was relieved to see painting that he said did t appear badly damd, although a white mark is visible on work, just below and to left of person standing in garden.

“In some cases when art is stolen, thieves get nervous, y can’t get rid of it or y think police is on ir tail so y destroy it,” he told Associated Press in a telephone interview. “So se pictures show that we are dealing with professionals. So painting is still alive, I wanted to say.”

Brand said he had shared photos with police investigating ft.

Police spokeswoman Laetitia Griffioen said photos “are part of investigation.” She declined furr comment.

Brand said tracking down painting will be tricky. “But at least we have proof of life by publishing se pictures.”

He said photos circulating in underworld may be a way of looking for a buyer for painting.

He speculated that March ft was a “copycat” of 2002 ft from Van Gogh Museum. Those two paintings