London ( CNN ) -- A Pablo Picasso painting given to the Greek people in recognition of their resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II has been stolen from the National Art Gallery in Athens . `` Head of a Woman , '' painted in 1939 , was among three works taken in the early morning heist on Monday , the authorities said . A fourth work was dropped by the thief , or thieves , during their getaway . The Picasso portrait , which depicts a woman in a white blouse against a blue background , is inscribed on the reverse : `` For the Greek people , a tribute from Picasso . '' It was donated by the artist in 1946 . Greek police say the raider , or raiders , also made off with Piet Mondrian 's `` Landscape with a mill , '' and a pen-and-ink sketch of San Diego de Alcala in ecstasy by Renaissance artist Guglielmo Caccia . `` Landscape with a farm , '' a second figurative painting by Dutch artist Mondrian -- who is better known for his abstract works -- was left behind as the burglar ran away . Officers say the intruder , or intruders , interfered with the alarm system several times overnight , setting it off repeatedly so that it was disabled by the museum guards . At about 4.30am local time ( 06:30 GMT ) , the raider ( s ) broke into the gallery 's temporary exhibition area through an aluminum-framed door on a balcony . During the theft , a motion detector was activated , alerting a guard who chased one thief , but was unable to catch him . The raid led Citizen 's Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis to criticize security at the gallery , which is home to works by Auguste Rodin , Henri Matisse and Peter Paul Rubens . `` I am very sorry because an artwork of huge value was stolen , '' news agency Agence France-Presse quoted Papoutsis as saying . `` This incident should prompt a re-evaluation of the National Gallery 's security arrangements . '' Athens ' National Art Gallery showcases works from the 14th to the 20th centuries , and is best known for its collections of Greek and Renaissance art , including paintings by El Greco , Tiepolo and Brueghel . The theft took place on the final day of an exhibition entitled `` Unknown Treasures , '' which had featured prints and etchings by Albrecht Duerer and Rembrandt van Rijn .
Paintings by Picasso , Mondrian stolen in raid on CNN in San Diego de Alcala . Thief , or thieves , tricked guard into deactivating alarm , broke in through balcony door . Raider dropped second piece by Greek while trying to flee . Picasso work had been donated to the Mondrian people for their resistance during World War II .