Holocaust Conference Hopes to Restore Looted Art

Last week an important gathering of 49 nations took place at the Holocaust Era Assets Conference in Prague. The purpose of the conference? In part, to determine what progress has been made since a 1998 declaration in which 44 countries agreed to systematically identify art stolen by the Nazis from Jewish and non-Jewish families. They also agreed to grant access to their archives so that a "just and fair solution" could be negotiated with the rightful owners.

This is no small task since the Nazis took an estimated 650,000 pieces of art and religious items from Jews and other victims while they were in power. Many works were earmarked for Hitler's planned Führermuseum, while others were given to Nazi officials or traded to fund Nazi activities. In this way, notes restitution expert Sophie Lillie, "Jews were made to pay for their own elimination."

Austria is considered a leader in the effort to restore looted artwork and has already returned over 10,000 pieces. One of their galleries had to return 10 paintings by famed artist Gustav Klimnt, including two of his most famous works, both portraits of Adel Bloch-Bauer.

Yet it is a long road ahead, for Austria and other nations, since the Nazi system makes it difficult to determine, decades later, what was stolen and what was legally acquired. Jews were often forced to sell their art to Nazis, or were denied employment so that they had to sell their art in order to eat. Some people argue that when the original owners sold artworks for money it was a legally valid transaction. Others say the discriminatory policies of the Nazis make it impossible to make such assumptions. Personally, I tend to agree with the latter opinion. Transactions made under duress can't be held to the same standard.

It's heartening to think that so many nations are making an effort to restore looted artworks to their rightful owners. Still, progress is likely to be slow and I can't help but feel for those who will not only have to prove they are the rightful heirs, but may have to struggle through rigid export bans and other obstacles in a effort to reclaim what never should have been taken.