Introduction
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has orchestrated the return of seven valuable Egon Schiele artworks to the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum, a Jewish art collector who perished in a concentration camp in 1941. This historic restitution, which took place at the New York Supreme Civil Court on September 20, marks a significant moment for the art world and the descendants of Holocaust victims. The recovered Austrian Expressionist works, with an estimated value ranging from $780,000 to $2.75 million each, had been held by private collectors and museums, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Morgan Library & Museum.
The Restitution Ceremony
On September 20, 2023, a poignant ceremony at the New York Supreme Civil Court saw the return of seven Egon Schiele artworks to the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum, a Jewish art collector who perished in a concentration camp in 1941. This historic event unfolded ahead of Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish high holiday, and carried great cultural and symbolic importance.
Value of Recovered Artworks
The seven Egon Schiele drawings and paintings that were returned are estimated to be worth between $780,000 and $2.75 million each. These valuable Austrian Expressionist works had been dispersed among private collectors and prestigious museums.
The Investigation and Legal Battle
The restitution of these artworks was the result of a meticulous investigation conducted by the Manhattan district attorney’s office. Grünbaum’s heirs initiated the process in December, inspired by a 2018 ruling that led collector Richard Nagy to return two Schiele works. In that case, it was determined that Grünbaum could not have voluntarily sold the artworks as he had signed away his title while interned at a concentration camp.
Stolen Artwork Allegations
Grünbaum’s heirs approached the Manhattan District Attorney’s office with concerns that other Schiele works, once owned by Grünbaum and present in New York or associated with American art dealer Otto Kallir, might constitute stolen property under New York law. Their assertion was supported by Jewish Property Declaration documents indicating that 81 artworks from Grünbaum’s collection had passed through Nazi ownership.
Museum and Collector Involvement
Several esteemed institutions and collectors were involved in the restitution process. The Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library & Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the late Serge Sabarsky, and World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder had held these Schiele works. Each institution and collector agreed to return the artworks as part of a criminal investigation into Nazi-looted art conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Future Plans and Significance
The returned artworks, now in the possession of Grünbaum’s heirs, are set to be auctioned by Christie’s in New York later this year. The proceeds from the sale will fund the newly established Grünbaum Fischer Foundation, which will also support a scholarship program for young musicians. This restitution case holds immense significance in the ongoing pursuit of looted items by Holocaust victims’ descendants, shedding light on the broader issue of stolen art in the aftermath of World War II.
High-Value Schiele Work
Among the recovered artworks, “I Love Antithesis” was identified as the most highly valued, with an estimated worth of $2.75 million. This sum, however, pales in comparison to the record set for Schiele’s art at auction in 2011 when “Hauser mit bunter Wasche (Vorstadt II),” dating from 1914, sold for £24.7 million ($40.1 million) at Sotheby’s in London.
Conclusion
The return of Egon Schiele artworks to the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to right historical wrongs related to stolen art during the Holocaust. This case sets a precedent and underscores the importance of addressing issues of cultural heritage, restitution, and justice for the descendants of Holocaust victims, even eight decades after World War II ended.
Feaature Image: Egon Schiele’s Girl Putting on Shoe (1910) was recently surrendered by the Museum of Modern Art to the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum. COURTESY OF THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The raw, radical, intense yet delicate portraiture of Egon Schiele
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