They were last seen in 1943. This is the most famous work lost in Silesia during World War II. The Germans then took away works of art from occupied Katowice. The good news is that now they can be seen in the Silesian Museum. Józef Brandt's painting returned to its place.
– It was published almost immediately after the war in many catalogs of lost works, which is why it became a symbol of a lost work – said Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
This is the most famous work lost during the war in Silesia – the painting “Hunting Trip” by Józef Brandt. After 81 years, it returns to its place – to the gallery of Polish contemporary art of the Silesian Museum in Katowice.
– Brandt is a leading creator, one of the best artists of the late 19th century, and this painting must hang in the gallery – comments Dr. Karol Makles from the Silesian Museum in Katowice.
There are several months of maintenance before the painting. It is in relatively good condition, although it has suffered some damage.
– It was brazenly cut from the loom. Here it still lacks about four centimeters of the edge that allows for tension in the image. Secondarily nailed to new looms. This is evidenced by all the losses around the edges – says Anna Ucieklak, an employee of the conservation of monuments at the Silesian Museum in Katowice.
Losses around the edges of the image The painting “Hunting Trip” by Józef Brandt – condition after recoveryTVN24
The last time the painting was seen was in 1943, when the Germans began to take away works of art from occupied Katowice. Where has he been since then and how was he tracked down? It's a secret.
– We can only say that it was handed over by its owners in Poland – says Agata Modzelewska from the Department of Restitution of Cultural Property of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Brandt's work was valued at over PLN 2 million.
Many lost works of art are found in Russia
Over half a million Polish works of art were lost during World War II. The process of recovering them is tedious and complicated work, which sometimes brings results only after many years. Poland has located and is currently fighting for the return of 180 stolen works.
– Polish law sometimes conflicts with the regulations of other countries, even European Union countries, which is why these conversations are difficult – explains Wojciech Śladowski from the Polish Auction House in Krakow.
– No one recovers works of art alone, nor do they recover them as a group, and sometimes even a dozen or so people recover them. This is a very complex work of many people and institutions – says Elżbieta Rogowska from the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
These people include museum workers, officials, diplomats, lawyers and even intelligence officers.
– We mainly find works of art in European countries: Germany, Austria, Great Britain, but also the United States. However, probably the largest resource of works of art lost during World War II is currently in Russia – points out Marek Kozubal, a journalist of “Rzeczpospolita”.
In the current geopolitical situation, the chances of regaining them are almost zero.
Main photo source: TVN24