Art Crime to Gurlitt Heritage – Unconditional return – Süddeutsche.de

In the event that it still inherits the family Gurlitt all Nazi-looted art back from the collection of the descendants of the victims. With the announcement of the relatives of the art collector will clearly show how much they are aware of their responsibility.

From Catrin Lorch and Jörg Häntzschel

In the event that the Kunstmuseum Bern in late November chooses not to accept the heritage of the collector Cornelius Gurlitt, promises the family the “immediate and unconditional return of looted art from the Cornelius collection Gurlitt in accordance with the Washington Declaration “

In a as.” Memo “titled declaration they announced yesterday also to continue the provenance research by the Task Force in Schwabing Art Fund – including that found in Salzburg images. They also declared its readiness to the closed works of “degenerate art” in the collection and 460 permanent exhibit in a German museum.

This solution is very similar, which was apparently negotiated between the Museum and Berlin.

Art Collection family Gurlitt plans permanent exhibit

For almost half a year checks the Kunstmuseum Bern, whether it take the delicate heritage of Cornelius Gurlitt art collection will. Now set its relatives open their plans in the event that the Swiss refuse.

So far were the relatives Gurlitt – is Cornelius Gurlitt 86-year-old cousin Uta Werner and nine years older than Dietrich Gurlitt – not in the public

The relatives could get a bigger role

The deceased on May 6, Cornelius Gurlitt had determined in his will, the Kunstmuseum Bern as the sole heir. Then called Culture Minister Monika Grütters his decision “almost a stroke of luck”. Such formulations must, however, have made sensitive in the Testament overridden. They are obviously tired of being put in the public under the suspicion of the historical dimension of their heritage and the ensuing responsibility not to meet.

That’s why they have now, a few weeks before the end of six month period of reflection in early December, they deserve the Swiss Museum, reported to word. You may also then be given a bigger role if the will is once again checked for its validity, for which there are clear signs.

The Jews themselves persecuted

The descendants of the music historian Willibald gurlitt, the brother of the Nazi art dealer, feel comfortable also infringed because they had to suffer even under the persecutions of the Nazis. “After the Nazi racial laws full Jewish mother and grandmother of the people involved, the wife of Willibald Gurlitt was,” it says in the letter of Cousin and Cousine Gurlitt and their six children.

As it is, they have also been sought in recent weeks to contact the lawyers of the Jewish owner, where they are entitled to restitution of works of art was made by the Task Force in view: with a clear promise to return. Even with the lawyers of the Bern museum they had already made contact.

The fact that the family has serious doubts about the work of the Task Force, can not find in their demand for greater transparency. In the letter she announces to publish all the individual works as well as Hildebrand Gurlitt business documents on the Internet. And even if the Task Force should continue its work, the family reserves, other organizations organize this, it should not go ahead effectively enough with the work.

This is in contrast to the image of Gurlitt in the public. Rarely is a family have become so famous and unknown to the same time. The descendants and relatives of the art dealer Hildebrand Gurlitt found themselves in the public eye, when it became known that Cornelius Gurlitt, son of the collector, in Schwabing guarded an art treasure of dubious origin.

The contrast between the old man and the million values ​​was tempting – the heir was quickly labeled as confused. Even more obscure appeared some of the relatives – including Ekkeheart Gurlitt, threw on the coffin at the funeral of reproductions of famous paintings from the collection

The Gurlitt were regarded as zero point in a process, the German yet, especially from the viewpoint. politicians, should end with a clean, seamless problem solving: restitution of all problematic cases, exhibition of the collection in neutral Switzerland. Ingeborg Berg Green-Merkel, Culture Federal Government Commissioner and Head of the Task Force, even said she was afraid of that Bern rash heritage. All the more, the question arises why no one has sought contact with the potential heirs? On the contrary: After the family had agreed on a common approach, wrote the Munich prosecutor Wolfgang Seybold already Monika Grütters weeks ago. But there was no answer. Their spokesman Hagen Philipp Wolf told the SZ, talking with the family there was “no reason”. One is at the museum in everyday exchange. It was agreed that it accepted the inheritance.

The decision of the Board of Trustees of the Museum on 26 November in Berlin apparently understood as a mere formality. In Bern has in recent weeks, however, repeatedly insisted that it was completely open, as the Board of Trustees will decide.

But even in the case of adoption of the heritage it is quite possible that with the disdainfully rejected will have to cooperate. According to information of the SZ is at least one review that provides the full testamentary capacity of Cornelius Gurlitt question.