Hidden Gems Restored: Rediscover the Captivating Egon Schiele Masterpieces Finally Returned to Jewish Art Collector's Heirs
Seven intimate Egon Schiele artworks, looted by the Nazis during WWII, have finally been returned to their rightful heirs These exquisite drawings, once displayed in prestigious institutions like MoMA, now mark a significant victory in the ongoing restitution of stolen art
Seven drawings by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele were ceremoniously returned to the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum, their rightful owner, during a press conference held in New York on Wednesday. These priceless works, dating back to the early 20th century, were part of Grünbaum's art collection that was tragically looted by the Nazis during World War II. As a result of the thorough investigation conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office's Trafficking Antiquities unit, the institutions and collectors voluntarily surrendered the stolen drawings after compelling evidence was presented. District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. confirmed this significant achievement in a statement.
Fritz Grünbaum, a Jewish Austrian cabaret performer, was a prominent figure in the cultural scene of 1930s Vienna, as stated by the Holocaust research project Music and the Holocaust. Known for openly mocking Nazism and Hitler in his performances, Grünbaum faced a ban on his routines which eventually led to his arrest by the Nazis in 1938. In a later distressing event, Grünbaum's wife, Elisabeth, was coerced to surrender her husband's extensive art collection, including "hundreds of pieces," to the Nazis. This collection included artworks that have recently been seized from three American museums due to claims of Nazi looting.
Grünbaum died in January 1941 while imprisoned at Dachau, a concentration camp located in southern Germany. The following year, Elisabeth also passed away at a concentration camp in Minsk, Belarus, according to Timothy Reif, one of Grünbaum's heirs, who shared this information during Wednesday's ceremony.
In a statement, Bragg expressed his hope that this moment would serve as a reminder of the ongoing impact on the families of the victims, despite the horrific death and destruction caused by the Nazis. He emphasized the importance of recovering some of what was lost, honoring the victims, and reflecting on the significance of the seven pieces cherished by Fritz Grünbaum, as there is still much to learn from him.
The 81 pieces collected by Grünbaum from Schiele mainly consisted of self-portraits and drawings of Schiele's wife, Edith. Grünbaum's collection included notable works such as "I Love Antithesis," a vibrant watercolor painting of the artist, and "Girl Putting on Shoe," previously held by MoMA.
Schiele's drawings were classified as "degenerate" by the Nazi party, a term used to denounce modern art that they believed could disrupt public security and order, according to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. During World War II, Nazi officials looted numerous pieces of "degenerate" artwork from museums, galleries, and private owners to financially support the party. Many of these pieces have since been showcased in renowned galleries and museums worldwide.
Advocates have long been trying to determine the original owners of the stolen artworks. The Grünbaum's Schiele collection, after being confiscated and sold by the Nazis, changed hands multiple times, eventually being sold by a Swiss auction house and later acquired by a gallerist in New York in the 1950s. These works were then sold again before finally being returned to the heirs of the Grünbaum family. Prior to their return, the artworks were last held by several institutions including MoMA, the Morgan Library, the Ronald Lauder Collection, the Vally Sabarsky Trust, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
Recently, additional Schiele pieces were "seized" from three museums in the US as part of ongoing efforts to reunite the Grünbaum's collection. However, these artworks currently remain at the museums pending further investigation.
At least six of the Schiele works that were returned will be auctioned to support the Grünbaum Fischer Foundation, a scholarship program for young musicians. Reif, whose paternal grandfather was Grünbaum's first cousin, stated in an interview with the New York Times that this undertaking serves as a reminder of the significant thefts that occurred during the largest mass murder in history. During Wednesday's ceremony, Reif emphasized that remembering the lives of the Grünbaums is a victory against Hitler's attempt to erase the legacy of this courageous Jewish man from history.
