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Jacques Goudstikker (1897-1940), an art dealer from the Netherlands during the period between WWI and WWII.
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McNay Art Museum
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A new exhibit opens on October 7 at the McNay Art Museum. "Reclaimed" features masterwork paintings that had been stolen by the Nazis and then stolen again by the Dutch government. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has the story.
October 7, 2009 ·When Charlen Von Saher was growing up, she heard stories about how her family fled Holland during WWII.
“My grandfather was a wonderful art collector, and after the war, things were different. My grandparents didn’t live in the beautiful home that they once lived in, and they didn’t have the collection anymore,” she said.
The art they lost was one of the best private collections in Europe.
Charlen’s grandfather was Jacques Goudstikker. He was a preeminent Jewish art dealer in the Netherlands, but that all changed in 1940 when Nazi Germany invaded.
“Hermann Goring went to his gallery soon after the Nazis invaded the Netherlands and stole 800 works of art,” said McNay Art Museum director William Chiego.
Goudstikker died in an accident, days after the invasion. Eventually the war ended but the paintings were not returned to the family. Instead they were claimed by the Dutch Government and absorbed into the national collection.
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A painting featured in the McNay Art Museum exhibition "Reclaimed:Paintings from the Collection of Jacques Goudstikker"
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It took a legal battle, but in 2006 Marie von Saher was able reclaim the paintings.
“We just felt that we had to fight for this. I had to do it for my mother-in-law and my husband,” Marie von Saher said.
They didn’t get all the family’s painting back. About a thousand works remain missing, but 46 of the standouts of the collection are on display at the McNay.
“It covers really from the early Italian 15th century, mostly 16th century, up to through the Northern Renaissance. Dutch 17th century is a big strength of the show — Golden Age of Dutch art — and has a coda of 18th century Venetian art,” said Chiego.
Chiego says the paintings not only have a fascinating story worthy of Hollywood, but that it’s a rare opportunity to see these works of arts.
“It’s a story about WWII history, but it’s the story of the history of art at the same time,” he said.
Marie von Saher said after having reclaimed her family’s art she is excited to share the works with art lovers in San Antonio.
“We finally put the wrong right, but this is really what it’s all about. For people to come, admire the art and learn the story,” Marie von Saher said.
The Reclaimed exhibit will remain at the McNay until this January 10. |
