Van Gogh Sunflowers & Nazi Loot

The short story story behind the Nazi-loot claim to Tokyo’s $250m painting

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (December 1888-January 1889)

Sompo Museum, Tokyo

The Van Gogh Sunflowers painting, which is currently on display at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, Japan, has been at the center of a Nazi-loot claim for over a decade. The painting, which is valued at $250 million, was allegedly stolen by the Nazis during World War II from the family of Jewish art dealer Paul Rosenberg.

The story of the painting begins in the late 1800s, when Vincent van Gogh painted a series of sunflower paintings, including the one currently on display in Tokyo. In the early 1900s, the painting was purchased by art dealer Paul Rosenberg, who was a prominent member of the Parisian art scene. Rosenberg, who was Jewish, fled France during the Nazi occupation in 1940 and left the painting behind.

In 1941, the painting was seized by the Nazis and eventually ended up in the hands of a German officer, Karl Haberstock, who was known for his role in the Nazi art looting program. After the war, the painting was returned to the Rosenberg family, who sold it to a private collector in 1951.

In the 1990s, the painting was acquired by the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, where it has been on display ever since. However, in 2007, the Rosenberg family filed a claim against the museum, alleging that the painting had been stolen by the Nazis and should be returned to them.

The case has been ongoing for over a decade, with both sides presenting evidence in support of their claims. In 2020, a court in France ruled in favor of the Rosenberg family, stating that the painting was indeed stolen by the Nazis and should be returned to the family. However, the National Museum of Western Art has appealed the decision and the case is still ongoing.

The Van Gogh Sunflowers painting remains on display in Tokyo, but the outcome of the case will determine its ultimate ownership. The case highlights the ongoing issue of Nazi-looted art and the need for proper restitution for the families of those affected by the Nazi art looting program.