Important art find: Campendon's Wirtshaus remains in Krefeld!

Important art find: Campendon's Wirtshaus remains in Krefeld!

On Monday morning, the art world became aware of Krefeld when an important agreement was announced that ensures that the Rhenish Expressionism paint is maintained. A decision that came about through lengthy negotiations and comprehensive provenance research resulted in this that the oil painting “Wirtshaus” by Heinrich Campendonk from 1917 remains in Krefeld. The work, which has been part of the Krefeld art collections since 1948, is exhibited according to wz.de Aesthetically exciting period.

The story of the "tavern" is characterized by tragic events. The painting was given under pressure during the Nazi era in 1937. After the war it came to Krefeld via detours, where it was offered by Cologne art dealer Werner Rusche in 1948. At the time of the takeover, there was no information on provenance, which makes the lengthy negotiations to return the painting all the more significant.

agreement with the heirs

The agreement enables the painting to be returned to the heiress of the Jewish owners, and at the same time the work is bought back. This unification involved significant institutions, including the federal government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the cultural foundation of the federal states. The exact amount of the purchase amount has so far remained unknown, as rnd.de The painting of the collection by Erfurt manufacturer Alfred Hess, who died in 1931, originally belonged. After his death, the collection was inherited to his son Hans Hess, who emigrated in 1933. During the escape, the collection was left behind by the family. In 1937 the Campendonk painting was sent to the Cologne Art Association; His later loss has not yet been fully informed. The Cologne Art Association found in 1947 that numerous works had been sold by hand.

context of art locations

Current developments in the area of ​​provenance research also show in other return procedures, such as the Düren Leopold-Hoesch Museum, which in 2019 bought a Campendonk picture and at the same time bought back. This form of return is now considered fair and fair, especially with regard to the Washington principles, as NRW Minister of Culture Ina Brandes emphasized.

In addition, the commission for Provenance Research, which has existed since 2008, illuminates the context of retrieval history. This not only deals with the returns during the Nazi era, but also the role of works of art in today's society. The research results are now accessible in publications that provide a broader discussion and contribute to the processing of the past. Cultural institutions in Germany in particular have dealt with the challenges of provenance research.

The case of Heinrich Campendon's "Wirtshaus" is not only a story about a work of art, but also an example of the ongoing dialogue about justice and memory in society.