The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation on the current restitution debate. Clarification of the provenance and restitution of Nazi-looted art remain key issues
Press release from 04/14/2009
Commenting on the current restitution debate, Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, said: "As Norman Rosenthal rightly points out, the restitution of artworks cannot make up for the inconceivable crimes committed by the Nazi regime against the European Jews. German restitution practice, however, is about clarification and moral obligation. For this reason, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation does not question its current practice in the spirit of the fair and just solutions demanded by the Washington Principles.
The Foundation will therefore continue to carry out intensive, responsible provenance research and - in justified individual cases - return cultural property that was confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution. Furthermore, Parzinger says: "Particularly with regard to the National Socialist history of our country, there must be no debate about drawing a line under it; we must confront the inconceivable crimes of the past with the greatest possible clarification and restitution today and tomorrow." Collections and holdings in the museums, libraries and archives of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation would not be as world-class today without the generous patronage of Jewish fellow citizens before 1933.
Much of this can only be clarified since German reunification, as essential archive material has been accessible since then. Since 1999, the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation has been authorised to negotiate amicable solutions directly with the legal successors of Jewish owners. Since then, the Foundation has decided on 29 restitution requests. 22 of these restitution requests have been granted and further cases are currently being processed. In addition, the Foundation's collection holdings are being systematically and scientifically researched with regard to their provenance and the results of this research are being made public.
In June 2008, the Provenance Research Centre, which is based at the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Cultural Foundation of the Federal States, began its work. It intensifies the search for Nazi-looted art by processing and supporting applications for funding from German museums, libraries and archives on this topic.