Bringing back Kokoschka

A painting by the Austrian Oskar Kokoschka, valued at €3 million, will be returned to the heirs of a Jewish art dealer, Alfred Flechtheim, who was persecuted by the Nazis.

The painting is now at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, Germany, but the Museum’s director respects the panel’s ruling. Instead of returning the painting, the museum hopes to buy it from the heir so it can remain in Cologne.

This decision was made in response to a restitution claim filed by Flechtheim’s great-nephew Mike Hulton in 2008. Hulton has filed over 100 restitution claims similar to this one about other paintings sold during the time of Flechtheim’s persecution.