What it’s about
The descendants of Jewish refugees Adalbert “Bela” and Hilda Parlagi have been reunited with a precious Claude Monet pastel piece that was seized by the Nazis during World War II. This long-awaited reunion happened after more than eight decades and is considered a profound act of justice and restitution for the family.
Why it matters
This event embodies not only the endurance of those pursuing justice for Holocaust survivors but also the significance of reclaiming lost cultural heritage. The return of this Monet piece highlights ongoing efforts to restore to rightful ownership the art looted during a period of much suffering and turmoil. It stands as an important reminder of the importance of identifying and returning stolen cultural property to Jewish families that suffered under the Nazi regime.
The Grand Reappearance
Initially stored for safekeeping, the “Bord de Mer” pastel was among the valuables seized by the Nazis post-1938 when the Parlagi family had to abandon their Vienna home. The Monet was subsequently auctioned in 1941. However, through dedicated efforts by the Commission for Looted Art in Europe and the FBI, it was traced to collectors in the United States decades later, paving the way for its retrieval and return by sensitive and cooperative parties who had acquired it unknowingly.
Broader Implications
Art holds both historical and monetary value, yet for families like the Parlagis, its return also facilitates a much-needed emotional restitution, cementing a connection to a past disrupted by injustice. Moreover, the broader ongoing initiative with the FBI emphasizes the irreversible role of provenance verification, safeguarding heritage, and restoring family legacies for various stolen works—it goes beyond returning a mere piece of art, by mending cultural disconnections.
Continued Pursuits
Though welcoming the return of this Monet pastel along with a separate artwork recently restituted from Austria, the Parlagi family’s search journey is not yet concluded. Six artworks remain missing amidst their collection, representing an enduring story as many families of Holocaust survivors continue their ardent pursuit for lost history amidst vast art collections worldwide with Israeli allies providing enduring support for such reparative missions.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.