Stedelijk Museum returns Matisse Odalisque painting to Jewish arts patrons’ heirs
The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam has announced that it will be returning Henri Matisse’s painting, “Odalisque” (1920-21), to the heirs of a Jewish textiles manufacturer who sold it under duress during the Nazi occupation. The painting has been in the museum’s collection since 1941 and belonged to Albert Stern, a prominent patron of the arts who was deported and died in a Nazi camp. The Dutch Restitutions Committee evaluated the heirs’ claim and determined that the sale was forced due to the circumstances of the time.
Albert Stern and his family fled to Amsterdam in 1937, where they faced further persecution by the Nazis. Stern’s business and home were confiscated, leading to financial struggles. The family attempted to escape the Netherlands, but Stern tragically perished in the Holocaust along with his two sons. His wife survived, as did two grandchildren.
The return of the Matisse painting has been described as a significant and emotional moment for the heirs, providing symbolic justice to their grandfather. The Stedelijk Museum’s director acknowledged the painting’s troubled history and the suffering endured by the Stern family. The decision to return the artwork has been seen as a step towards acknowledging and repairing the injustices suffered by Jewish citizens during the Second World War.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.