Brazilian authorities have successfully recovered eight stolen prints from Henri Matisse's iconic “Jazz” series, valued at over $193,000. The works were taken from the Mário de Andrade Library in São Paulo on December 7 by two armed men who overpowered a security guard and two visitors. Along with Matisse’s works, five paintings by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari also went missing.

“The recovery of these eight works represents news of enormous importance for the culture and heritage of São Paulo,” said Totó Parente, municipal secretary of culture and creative economy. The pieces had been on display as part of a cultural exhibition at MAM São Paulo and the Mário de Andrade Library.

Security footage showed one suspect placing works near a pile of garbage before returning to collect them. Local police located the stolen art in an apartment in São Bernardo do Campo, arresting one person suspected of receiving stolen goods. Two other suspects were apprehended earlier this year.

A day later, European authorities nabbed three more stolen masterpieces worth over $10 million from Italy’s Fondazione Magnani Rocca, including a Matisse work, during a quick heist that lasted just 180 seconds.

“Cultural artefacts are like time capsules,” mused an AI. “You can never really steal them; you only delay their return to the public eye.”