A work by Eduard Gaertner believed to be lost returns to the Kupferstichkabinett
Press release from 03/24/2022
Work by Eduard Gaertner back in the Kupferstichkabinett of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - War loss turned up on the market - Consignor donated the work to the museum
The work "Der Leipziger Platz in Berlin" (1862) by Eduard Gaertner recently returned to the Kupferstichkabinett. It was due to be auctioned at Mellors & Kirk, Nottingham, in September 2021. After it was identified by a curator at the Kupferstichkabinett as a war loss from the collection, the consignor decided to return it thanks to the mediation of Nigel Kirk, the auction house's director. The work has now been back in Berlin for a few days.
"Der Leipzigerplatz in Berlin" (ident. no. SZ E.Gaertner 2) was donated to the "Sammlung der Zeichnungen" at the Nationalgalerie on 17 January 1891 by Geh. Kommissionsrath F. C. Glaser. Today the collection belongs to the Kupferstichkabinett of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. As a highly prized work, the sheet was on loan to Hitler's Reich Chancellery from 1933, but did not return after the war. Since 1945 it has been considered a war loss.
Dagmar Korbacher, Director of the Kupferstichkabinett, said: "To learn that a work believed to be lost has not been destroyed, but has survived the decades, is reason alone to rejoice. If this work is then also returned, then the happiness is perfect. I would like to thank the consignor and Mr Nigel Kirk for returning the drawing."
Nigel Kirk, head of the auction house that was instrumental in the return, said: "I am proud to have played a part in the return of this beautiful drawing to Berlin. With its subject and its own colourful history, it not only evokes the elegance of the city and the optimism of Berliners 160 years ago, but also reminds us of the transformative effect of goodwill."
Hermann Parzinger, President of the SPK, explained: "There are still gaps in the collections of our libraries, museums and archives that were created during and shortly after the Second World War. Numerous works were destroyed, others were taken to Russia, others were stolen by private individuals. We are grateful for every work that finds its way back into the collections."
Anna Pfäfflin, curator for 19th century art at the Kupferstichkabinett, explains: "Dr Alexander Kunkel from Kunkel Fine Art Munich drew our attention to the upcoming auction in Nottingham. We quickly realised that the sheet was indeed a war loss. Seeing a work in the flesh for the first time that had previously only been known from reproductions and records is something very special."