Restitution of Art Looted by Nazis: Finding Fair and Just Solutions

A work of art disappears in times of war. Years later, dedicated researchers come upon this artwork in a national art museum and find out that the Nazis confiscated the piece and that it had been sold several times since then. Morally perhaps a clear-cut case, but legally incon-clusive: Whose art is it?

Twenty years ago, in 1998, more than 40 countries and many international non-governmental organisations agreed on the »Washington Principles« which form the moral and political bases for restitutions in the case of Nazi confiscated art. Can this attempt to right historical wrongs ensure a more peaceful and respectful present? The workshop explored the history of artworks in museums and of their previous owners. Here, provenance research, which deals with the origins and »paths« of artworks, is essential. The participants acquired insights into the toolkit of a provenance researcher. On an excursion to the exhibition »Inventory of the Gurlitt«, they got a glimpse of actual provenance research at the Gropius Bau in Berlin. In small groups, they developed short films that reflect their views on the matter.