That is backbreaking development, until now. An 18th-century painting—Portrait of a Lady—long attributed to the Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi, has returned to Argentina. The artwork was stolen during WWII from Dutch-Jewish art collector Jacques Goudstikker. The painting was displayed in Patricia Kadgien’s home after having been inherited from her father—a high-ranking Nazi officer. This finding certainly begs the question, what is the continuing legacy of art theft from the Holocaust era?
One of over 1,100 stolen works from Goudstikker’s prestigious collection, which boasted masterpieces by famed artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer. Goudstikker never wanted to sell his collection – in fact, he sold it under duress at a small percentage of its market value. Tragically, he perished in a maritime accident while escaping from the invading German army in the Netherlands in 1940.
The recent discovery of the painting came to light when it was photographed and listed in an online real estate advertisement in February. This shocking situation led to immediate action from local officials, who removed the dangerous advertisement just days later. Prosecutors argue that Patricia Kadgien and her spouse, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, have been concealing the artwork. In their place, they are now effectively under house arrest while the public prosecutor’s investigations proceed.
Prosecutor Carlos Martínez stated, “It was only after several police raids that they turned it in.” He further noted that Kadgien and her husband were “aware that the artwork was being sought by the criminal justice system and international authorities.”
Now the Argentine court has ruled that “Portrait of a Lady” should be exhibited at the Holocaust Museum in Buenos Aires. This needs to occur prior to any proposed loan of the art overseas. At the heart of this court’s ruling is the importance of conserving the painting. It produces an environment that contextualizes and honors the original historical significance of the artwork.
Marei von Saher, the Swiss-born heiress to Jacques Goudstikker’s estate. She has filed a legal claim for the return of “Portrait of a Lady.” Today, descendants of Holocaust victims are the active ones seeking to return stolen art. This issue still fuels controversy, even 40 years after the war.
The ongoing saga of “Portrait of a Lady” exemplifies the difficulties surrounding art restitution. It’s a story that illuminates the long shadows of the past. For better or worse, nations are having to confront their pasts. The return of each stolen work, such as this painting, underscores the important work to recognize and address past injustices.
