Kunsthaus Zürich Reaches Settlement with Heirs of Carl Sachs Over Monet Work, to Be Sold
The Facts
The Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft, patron association of the Kunsthaus Zürich and owner of its collection, on 5 June 2024 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 work, which entered the Kunsthaus on loan in 1934, will be sold under the amicable agreement. Research confirmed that Sachs was forced to sell the painting under duress shortly after fleeing Nazi Germany for Switzerland in 1939, with the proceeds needed for living expenses. The share accruing to the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft will be transferred to the museum's collection fund, in line with the ICOM Code of Ethics.
The Signal
The settlement marks a key step in the systematic implementation of the new provenance strategy that the Kunsthaus Zürich presented in March 2023, which commits the museum to proactively address works confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution, including those sold by emigrants in third countries. The museum's expanded provenance research team, led by Joachim Sieber, prioritizes the collection and new acquisitions. For collectors and institutions, this resolution underscores the increasing legal and ethical imperative for museums to return or compensate for works acquired under duress, particularly those involving Nazi-era persecution, and signals a shift toward greater transparency in Swiss museum provenance practices.
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