Bavaria Faces Allegations of Concealing Nazi-Looted Art in State Collections

A leaked internal list suggests nearly 200 artworks may be Nazi-looted property, raising questions about transparency and restitution efforts.

An internal list from Bavaria's State Paintings Collections identifies approximately 200 artworks as Nazi-looted art, with another 800 cases flagged as suspicious.
Critics allege that the state has withheld this information from rightful heirs, delaying or avoiding restitution in violation of the Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art.
Prominent works by artists like Max Beckmann, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Klee are among those implicated, with claims from heirs of Jewish art dealers like Alfred Flechtheim and Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
The Bavarian State Paintings Collections defends its actions, claiming the leaked list is outdated and that updated provenance research has been made publicly available online since 2022.
Germany's Culture Minister, Claudia Roth, has called for a thorough investigation, emphasizing the need for transparency and reform in restitution processes to address these concerns.