Swiss Collection Restitutes Ferdinand Hodler Painting to Jewish Heirs

The heirs of Martha Nathan, a Jewish woman persecuted by the Nazis, have recovered a painting by Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler from the Stefanini collection. The restitution builds pressure on other Swiss collections suspected of holding looted art. The case highlights ongoing efforts to address Nazi-era art theft in Switzerland, where provenance research has been slower than in other countries. The painting's return follows a claim by Nathan's descendants, supported by evidence of forced sale during the Nazi regime. The Stefanini collection, known for its Swiss art holdings, agreed to the restitution without litigation. This move is seen as a precedent for other Swiss collectors and institutions to review their holdings for potentially looted works.