Experts Challenge Authenticity of Russian Avant-Garde Works at MSK Ghent

A group of specialists in Russian Modernism is raising doubts about a showcase of Russian avant-garde art currently at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent. An open letter published in The Art Newspaper questions the legitimacy of pieces linked to famous figures like Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, and others. These pieces are on loan from the Dieleghem Foundation in Belgium, which claims they were acquired by Igor Toporkovski's family after Stalin's era. Notable individuals signing the letter include Dr. Alexandra Shatskikh, Dr. Konstantin Akinsha, and Julian Barran. The main concern is the absence of provenance and exhibition records, which affects everything from wall labels to catalogues. This discussion gained momentum with a letter in January 2018, capturing the attention of the global art community.