Bénédicte Savoy's '¿A quién pertenece la belleza?' Explores Restitution Debates, Published by CÁTEDRA
The book '¿A quién pertenece la belleza?', authored by Bénédicte Savoy and released by Ediciones CÁTEDRA on April 30, 2026, delves into the contentious issue of cultural artifact ownership in museums, highlighting pieces such as the bust of Nefertiti and Gustav Klimt's portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. An art historian and professor at the Technical University of Berlin, Savoy uncovers the complex narratives of violence and politics linked to these artifacts. In 2018, she collaborated with Felwine Sarr on a report addressing the restitution of African cultural heritage for French President Emmanuel Macron. The 272-page volume, available for €19.95 in print and €13.99 in ePub, was awarded the European Essay Prize 2025. Savoy has also been honored with the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize in 2016.
Key facts
- Bénédicte Savoy's book '¿A quién pertenece la belleza?' is published by Ediciones CÁTEDRA on April 30, 2026.
- The book explores ownership debates over cultural artifacts like the bust of Nefertiti and the royal treasures of Benin.
- Savoy co-authored a 2018 report on African cultural heritage restitution with Felwine Sarr for President Emmanuel Macron.
- The work has won the European Essay Prize 2025.
- Savoy is a professor at the Technical University of Berlin and a recipient of the 2016 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize.
- The book is 272 pages long, available in paper (€19.95) and ePub (€13.99) formats.
- Savoy is a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and a Dame of the French Legion of Honor.
- Her recent publications include 'Le Long Combat de l'Afrique pour son art' and 'Atlas der Abwesenheit. Kameruns Kulturerbe in Deutschland'.
Entities
Artists
- Bénédicte Savoy
- Felwine Sarr
- Gustav Klimt
Institutions
- Ediciones CÁTEDRA
- Grupo Anaya
- Technical University of Berlin
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- Revista de Arte - Logopress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Berlin
- Germany
- Benin
- Camerun