Musée d'Orsay Opens Permanent Display of Nazi-Looted Artworks to Trace Provenance
In Paris, the Musée d'Orsay has unveiled a permanent exhibition entitled "Who Owns These Works?" that examines artworks possibly seized during World War II. This showcase highlights 13 pieces from the museum's collection of 225 that lack complete provenance, such as Edgar Degas's "The Dinner at the Ball" (1879), which belonged to Jewish collector Fernand Ochsé, who perished at Auschwitz in 1944. Additionally, it includes an 1891 portrait by Alfred Stevens acquired for Hitler in 1942 and a Cézanne landscape obtained from a dealer linked to Hitler. During the war, over 100,000 cultural items were taken from France, with around 60,000 recovered. The Musée d'Orsay has returned 15 items over the past 30 years, while six experts continue to investigate the remaining works.
Key facts
- Musée d'Orsay opened permanent exhibition 'Who Owns These Works?' for Nazi-looted artworks.
- 13 of 225 artworks with incomplete provenance are on rotating display.
- Edgar Degas's 'The Dinner at the Ball' (1879) was owned by Jewish collector Fernand Ochsé, who died at Auschwitz.
- Ochsé sold the painting before WWII; curator François Blanchetière questions if it was a forced sale.
- Alfred Stevens portrait (1891) was purchased for Hitler in 1942 and later sold to Martin Bormann.
- Landscape attributed to Paul Cézanne was bought by Hitler-associated dealer in 1942.
- Over 100,000 cultural artifacts looted from France during WWII; 60,000 recovered, 45,000 returned.
- Musée d'Orsay returned 15 pieces over 30 years, most recently in 2024 to heirs of Grégoire Schusterman.
Entities
Artists
- Edgar Degas
- Fernand Ochsé
- Alfred Stevens
- Paul Cézanne
- Claude Monet
- Auguste Renoir
- Mary Cassatt
- Camille Pissarro
- Berthe Morisot
- Gustave Caillebotte
- Grégoire Schusterman
Institutions
- Musée d'Orsay
- Louvre
- Smithsonian
- New York Times
- Associated Press
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Auschwitz
- Germany
- Linz
- Austria
- Vichy