A Dutch newspaper claims that the work "Portrait of a Lady", stolen during World War II, may be in Argentina. According to Algemeen Dagblad, Friedrich Kadgien's daughters, a former Nazi financier who lived in Buenos Aires, may have it.
The investigation indicates that the discovery was revealed through a photo published in a real estate listing. Now, the heirs of Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker are seeking to recover the painting.
Según Algemeen Dagblad, la tendrían las hijas de Friedrich Kadgien
The clue that started the search
The painting may have accompanied Kadgien to Argentina, according to previous investigations. The key detail emerged when one of his daughters put her house on the Buenos Aires Atlantic coast up for sale.
One of the living room photographs appears to show what seem to be the dimensions and details of Portrait of a Lady.
A second work also under scrutiny
Another painting, by Dutch artist Abraham Mignon, could be with the same family. The work is listed as missing on the Dutch heritage agency's website and was detected in a photo posted on social media by one of Kadgien's daughters.
Una de sus hijas puso en venta su casa en la costa atlántica bonaerense
Algemeen Dagblad's correspondent tried to contact the women, without success. He only received brief replies via Instagram and WhatsApp, refusing to provide information.
The historical context of the works
"Portrait of a Lady" belonged to Jacques Goudstikker, a Jewish art dealer who died while fleeing the Nazis in Amsterdam. During the occupation, Third Reich officials acquired his works at low prices.
“Retrato de una dama” pertenecía a Jacques Goudstikker
Documents show that Kadgien possessed at least two of those paintings in 1946. The second work by Mignon may also have been acquired under those circumstances.
Who was Friedrich Kadgien
A member of the SS and collaborator of Hermann Göring, Kadgien managed Third Reich funds and participated in the extortion of Jewish merchants in Amsterdam. After the war, he fled to Switzerland, Brazil, and finally settled in Argentina during Perón's government.
There, he founded a company, started a family, and died in 1978 without being tried for his past.
Hermann Göring en la galería de arte Goudstikker
Claim by Goudstikker's heirs
Goudstikker's heirs announced that they will initiate legal action to recover "Portrait of a Lady". Von Saher told Algemeen Dagblad that they seek to restore the family legacy and recover all the stolen works.
The legal process could be lengthy, especially if Kadgien's descendants refuse to cooperate with the restitution.
