The Facts
The Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft, the patron association of the Kunsthaus Zürich, has agreed with the heirs of Jewish industrialist and art collector Carl Sachs on a 'just and fair solution' for Claude Monet's 'L’Homme à l’ombrelle' (1865/1867). The agreement, reached on June 5, 2024, follows the museum's new provenance strategy presented in March 2023. The painting, which entered the Kunsthaus on loan in 1934, will now be sold under the terms of the amicable agreement. The Kunsthaus confirmed that Sachs was compelled to sell the work under duress after fleeing Nazi Germany for Switzerland in 1939, with the proceeds needed for the couple's survival.
The Signal
The settlement marks a significant step in the Kunsthaus Zürich's systematic implementation of its provenance strategy, which commits to dealing proactively with works potentially confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution. The museum's research, led by Joachim Sieber, prioritizes its own collection and new acquisitions, investigating works created before 1945 that changed hands between January 1933 and May 1945. The share accruing to the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft will be transferred to the Kunsthaus's collection fund, in accordance with the ICOM Code of Ethics. This case underscores the museum's commitment to transparency and its willingness to seek solutions for works with substantiated indications of duress, even when it means losing a treasured piece from its collection.
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