Kokoschka "Pariser Platz in Berlin": Joint press release by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Commission for Looted Art in Europe
Press release from 04/29/2014
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Commission for Looted Art in Europe are working together to clarify the provenance of Oskar Kokoschka's painting "Pariser Platz in Berlin". The Commission represents the family of Anna Caspari, a respected art dealer in Munich, who was deported from Germany to Riga by the Nazis in 1941 and murdered there. The work belonged to the Caspari family/gallery.
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), says: "We have agreed on intensive cooperation with the family representatives. This gives me hope that we will be able to clarify the circumstances of the acquisition as quickly and thoroughly as possible. All further decisions can only be made on the basis of reliable knowledge about the historical circumstances of the acquisition and the history and ownership of the Caspari Gallery. It is good that we have now taken a step forward on this path." The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Commission will jointly research the entire art collection of Anna Caspari and the circumstances of its loss.
Anne Webber and David Lewis, Co-Chairs of the Commission, said: "Anna Caspari suffered a terrible fate at the hands of the Nazis and we are grateful to be working with the SPK, which owns several paintings formerly belonging to Anna Caspari, to clarify the circumstances surrounding the loss of the art collection."
As soon as further information is available, the SPK and the Commission will publish the results. Both sides have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding the course of the research work and discussions.
The painting, a work from the collection of the Nationalgalerie Berlin, hung in the office of the foundation's president until a few weeks ago. It had been taken down because a Nazi-related confiscation could no longer be ruled out. In connection with the reporting on 9 and 10 April 2014 about the painting by Oskar Kokoschka "Pariser Platz in Berlin", Hermann Parzinger emphasised that the Foundation would do everything in its power to clarify the provenance of the painting as quickly as possible. If it turns out that the painting is a cultural asset seized as a result of Nazi persecution, the SPK and the Commission will seek a fair and equitable solution in line with the Washington Principles.
Contact Commission for Looted Art in Europe
Anne Webber and David Lewis, Co-chairs
76 Gloucester Place
London W1U 6HJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7487 3401
Fax: +44 (0)20 7487 4211
info(at)lootedartcommission(dot)com