Dusseldorf Police Chief Detective Michael Dietz holds the Yves Tanguy painting that was left behind at Dusseldorf Airport by a businessman flying to Tel Aviv. The painting was later found in a container of waste paper destined for recycling. Photo courtesy of Dusseldorf Police
The businessman contacted the airport, but officials were unable to locate the flat cardboard box containing the painting.
The man's nephew, who lives in Belgium, traveled to Dusseldorf to join in the search and sought help from the local police.
Police contacted the cleaning company contracted by the airport and an investigator ended up searching through the waste paper recycling with a company manager.
The painting was found at the bottom of the recycling container. It was returned Wednesday to the businessman who had misplaced it.
