COLOGNE, GERMANY.- A painting by Max Ernst was stolen at the Art Cologne fair, reported Germa police. The theft took place after the fair closed and the stands were being taken down. The stolen work was an untilted one.

Thomas von Salis from a Salzburg, Austria dealer gallery said, “About 8 pm, three of my staff and I were busy taking down the pictures. The locks had already been opened. It must have happened then. We turned our backs and the thief struck."

Cologne police have no clues on this theft and also stated that security was lax in the construction and dismantling phases of the fair.

Police spokesman Christoph Gilles stated, “We haven't even obtained any photo of the painting." said police spokesman Christoph Gilles. The value of the 1957 painting was $210,000 dollars. A 1986 bronze sculpture by A.R. Penck was also stolen at Art Cologne.