Robert Draws – Monet masterpiece rediscovered after more than 80 years of disappearance—this iconic artwork by legendary French painter Claude Monet. Which had been stolen by the Nazis during World War II, has finally been returned to the rightful heirs. On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Bord de Mer, a 1865 Monet pastel painting, was handed back to the descendants of the original owners in New Orleans, USA. This recovery is a significant milestone in the restitution of art looted during the Holocaust and is part of an ongoing effort to recover the stolen treasures of cultural history that were lost during the turmoil of the Second World War.
The artwork in question, Bord de Mer, was painted by Monet in 1865 and is a beautiful depiction of the Normandy coastline. Showcasing its rocky shore in delicate pastel tones. The piece is not only valuable for its artistic achievement but also carries immense historical significance. Tied to the Normandy region’s pivotal role in World War II, particularly the 1944 Allied invasion. The painting offers a glimpse of the landscape before the war scarred the area. Bord de Mer is just one of many artworks looted by the Nazis. It’s return marks a poignant chapter in the larger story of art restitution.
In 1936, Bord de Mer was purchased by an Austrian Jewish couple, Adalbert and Hilda Parlagi. Who hung the artwork in their home, appreciating the beauty of Monet’s landscape. However, as the Nazi regime took hold in Austria and began its systematic persecution of Jewish people. The Parlagi family was forced to flee their home. They left behind all their belongings, including the Monet painting. Which they entrusted to a warehouse in Vienna. Hoping they would be able to return and retrieve it when it was safe.
Unfortunately, before the Parlagis could return for their belongings, the Gestapo raided the warehouse in 1938. Seizing all of the family’s possessions, including the Monet. The painting, like so many other looted artworks, was then sold off at an auction run by Nazi art dealers in 1941. Where it vanished into the hands of unknown buyers. The Parlagi family was unable to recover the painting, and it remained lost for decades.
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The Bord de Mer painting’s journey after being stolen is part of the broader history of art thefts carried out by the Nazis during World War II. Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials had a systematic plan to pillage Europe’s cultural heritage. Seizing artworks and other precious items from Jewish families and institutions. The stolen art was either auctioned, stored in secret locations, or sent to Nazi officials’ personal collections.
After the war ended, efforts began to locate and return the stolen artwork. The Bord de Mer painting was one of the many pieces that had been lost. It wasn’t until recent years that investigative teams. Including the FBI’s Art Crime Team, began to track down such stolen treasures. Through diligent research and the use of modern forensic techniques, investigators were able to trace the painting’s ownership history back to the Parlagi family, leading to its eventual recovery.
The FBI has played a significant role in the recovery of looted art. Particularly with the formation of the FBI’s Art Crime Team. This team has been working tirelessly to track down and return artworks that were stolen during the Nazi regime. The Bord de Mer painting was one of the many pieces discovered as part of this ongoing effort. Which aims to correct the cultural wrongs committed during the Holocaust.
The FBI’s work in art restitution is part of a larger international effort to recover stolen art from all over the world. Since the formation of the Art Crime Team, the FBI has returned thousands of artworks to their rightful owners. Bord de Mer is one of the most significant returns in recent years. This is not just a victory for the Parlagi family but for the global art community. Which recognizes the importance of reclaiming these cultural treasures and returning them to their rightful homes.
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At the ceremony where the painting was returned to the Parlagi family’s descendants, Helen Lowe, the granddaughter of Adalbert Parlagi, expressed her deep emotions upon receiving the artwork. “I am certain my grandfather would be so proud to see Bord de Mer back in the family,” she said. The return of the painting to the family was a moment of emotional closure for the Parlagi descendants, who had long believed the artwork was lost forever.
The recovery of Bord de Mer serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazis and the ongoing efforts to right the wrongs of the past. For many Holocaust survivors and their families, the return of stolen artworks is an important step in preserving their legacy and the legacy of those lost during the war.
The work of organizations like the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, which has recovered over 3,500 stolen artworks, has been crucial in facilitating the return of such pieces. It is a reminder that even after decades, the fight for the restitution of looted art is far from over, and the recovery of Bord de Mer offers hope that more artworks will one day be returned to their rightful owners.
