Monet artwork stolen by NAZIS in MFA Exhibit
Alex Constantine
Monet artwork stolen by NAZIS in MFA Exhibit
AJCongress urges prompt exhibitions of artworks stolen from Holocaust
victims
News Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Jewish Congress, New England Region
Contact: Sheila Decter
(617)527-0840 or (617)457-8888
November 30, 1998
or dec...@ajcongress-ne.org
Responding to the Boston Globe article about the possibility of locating
the heirs to a Nazi stolen artwork displayed in the MFA Monet exhibit,
Sheila Decter, Executive Director of the New England Region of the
American Jewish Congress made the following statement:
"The problem of art confiscated by the Nazis is a complex one.
"Some of the countries that have held this art recovered from the Nazis
have not worked very aggressively to find the rightful owners. Although
many pieces have been returned, there are hundreds of very valuable
paintings still held. The relatively new availability of German archival
material that was recently recovered from the Russians makes it possible
to pursue ownership issues. We hope that museums in France and Holland,
which hold many of these paintings, will make renewed vigorous efforts.
"The problem of potential claims has interfered with international
display of the works. It is important that the works be publicly
displayed now so that the rightful owners might learn where the works
are located. When displayed, it is important that museums give
appropriate information regarding their status as art recovered from the
Nazis with owners not yet located. Such clear labels would facilitate
public attention on these unclaimed artworks.
"The museums and art world professionals need to develop an orderly way
of insuring the rights of survivors to make their claims and at the same
time allow the unfettered exhibition of these paintings when they are
temporarily loaned to other museums. Claimants must have ample
opportunity to present these claims in an appropriate venue. If we do
not find ways to allow exhibitions of art, free from fear of attachments
or confiscation, the art will not be widely displayed, and will more
likely be inaccessible to rightful heirs and claimants. By these
exhibitions, there is a substantial opportunity for these claimants to
locate the works of art and find appropriate and fair forums to make
their claims. The countries that are in possession of this art recovered
from the Nazis have an obligation to provide mechanisms for claimants to
assert their claims.
"We understand that some interested parties believe that the works of
art should be sold and the money distributed to survivors of the
Holocaust. Selling the works at this time would complicate the rights of
surviving owner families to come forward and claim title. At some future
time, the question of whether these works should be sold for the benefit
of Holocaust survivors could be addressed and might provide some
justice. But we believe that such sales are premature. We do not have a
set time to suggest, but it seems to us that there needs to be more
vigorous efforts to find the rightful owners and that public displays of
the artworks is one reasonable method."
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email: bos...@ajcongress.org
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