A notable painting, Portrait of a Lady by Giuseppe Ghislandi, has surfaced on the website of a real estate agent selling a house in Argentina, over 80 years after its theft during World War II. The artwork was stolen from Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker in Amsterdam by the Nazis. The seller’s property is linked to a former senior Nazi official, who relocated to South America following the war.
The discovery occurred when the house was listed for sale by the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, an SS officer associated with high-ranking Nazi officials. The painting, which is documented in a database of lost wartime art, was previously unaccounted for. Goudstikker, known for aiding other Jews during the war, died in an accident while attempting to escape the Netherlands, leaving behind a collection that consisted of over 1,100 works, many of which were forcefully sold to senior Nazis like Hermann Göring.
Post-war, some artworks from Goudstikker’s collection were reclaimed and are now displayed in the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam. In 2006, Goudstikker’s sole surviving heir, his daughter-in-law Marei von Saher, regained possession of 202 pieces. However, Portrait of a Lady remained unrecognized until its current appearance.
Investigations have indicated that Kadgien, who died in 1979, had possession of the artwork until his departure from Europe in 1945. The Dutch newspaper AD has reported efforts to contact Kadgien’s daughters regarding their father’s past and the artwork’s status, but these have largely been unsuccessful. Recent attempts to reach the daughters have also failed, leading to limited communication.
Lawyers representing Goudstikker’s estate express their commitment to reclaiming the painting, with von Saher stating a desire to restore Goudstikker’s legacy and recover all stolen artworks.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq68dze2l71o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss