Swiss Bührle Foundation Negotiating Settlement with Jewish Heirs for Major Impressionist Works
The Stiftung Sammlung E.G. Bührle, which oversees the controversial Bührle collection on loan to Zurich’s Kunsthaus, has announced plans to seek settlements with the heirs of the previous Jewish owners of five important Impressionist paintings in its collection. The decision follows new international guidelines for handling art lost due to Nazi persecution. These guidelines aim to clarify ambiguities that have led to disputes and build on the 1998 Washington Principles. The foundation aims to find fair and just solutions for the works in question with the legal heirs of the former owners. Additionally, a symbolic settlement will be sought for a sixth painting. These actions come as the foundation continues to address concerns regarding the collection’s provenance and the legacy of its controversial former owner, Emil Bührle. The announcement has been welcomed by the Kunsthaus, which has its own strategy on provenance. This development comes ahead of the publication of an independent evaluation of the foundation’s provenance research.
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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.