In The Vanished Collection the struggle between heirs and museums to claim artwork looted by the Nazis was focused on. Here we look at the views for and against restitution.
[RESTITUTION] IS A SIMPLE, RIGHT AND FAIR WAY OF RIGHTING HISTORIC WRONGS 1
Julius Priester V.
The world should let go of the past and live in the present… Each person should invent him or herself creatively in the present, and not on the back of the lost wealth of ancestors. 2
YOU CAN’T TURN THE CLOCK BACK OR MAKE THINGS GOOD AGAIN THROUGH ART 2
Such claims should be pursued if for nothing else but for the light they throw on the history and culture of that period and for the memory of those who lost their lives under the evil and brutal Nazi regime. 4
Is the interest of the general public in seeing a Nazi-looted art work in a museum so important as to outweigh the need for respect of individual rights and the right to private property? 4
MAKING GOOD THE CRIMES OF THE NAZIS MAY SEEM JUST THAT – BUT IT IS MEANINGLESS. NO HORRORS ARE REVERSED. 3
Alfred Lindon V.
It has to be good that important works of art should be available to all through public ownership. Restitution claims from museums go against this idea and result in the general culture being impoverished. 2
BOTH [NAZIS AND OPPONENTS OF RESTITUTION] DENY A PARTICULAR GROUP THEIR RIGHT TO PROPERTY, ALBEIT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. 4
Otto Ollendorff V.
1 Department of Culture, Media and Sport, 2000
2 Norman Rosenthal, The Art Newspaper, 2008
3 Jonathan Jones, The Guardian, 2009
4 Dr Kwame Opoku, The Guardian, 2009
All available in full at: www.lootedart.com