The Institute for Jewish Studies in Heidelberg (the Hochschule für Judische Studien Heidelberg) will host a one-day conference on January 26, 2014 entitled “Appropriated Art—The Gurlitt Case” (Ersessene Kunst—Der Fall Gurlitt). Leading academics, journalists, and researchers will put the Gurlitt find into a historical and legal perspective. As listed below, the depth of topics that will be presented is outstanding. Last, and very much least, I will present on the efficacy, challenges, and policy considerations in U.S. art restitution litigation.
From the (translated) course description at http://www.hfjs.eu/aktuell/aktuell.html:
Whoever believed that the workings of Nazi heritage held no more surprises after 70 or 80 years has been disabused of that by the Gurlitt case. What was surprising was the discovery of 1280 or even 1406 paintings and drawings in the Schwabing apartment of the aged art dealer son. Equally surprising was the secrecy of the prosecutor's office, and no less irritating were the vicissitudes of public debate following the discovery. The debate varies, fueled by contradictory expert statements between " looted art, "art theft," and "wrong." The prosecution’s own approach has become uncertain, and has even let it be hinted that they could actually return the images.
The goal of the conference is the elucidation of historic, legal, and ethical dimensions of the Gurlitt case, as well as the connections between all three beyond a simply legal assessment. a further aspect is the media treatment of the case. the conference presentations will address themselves with the art market and museum practice before and after 1945, the history of the Gurlitt collection, the classification of art collections as stolen art, booty art, among others, and to thematize historical and contemporary aspects of restitution practice.
The conference begins at 10:00 at the IfJS, Landfriedstraße 12, 69117 Heidelberg, Hannah-Arendt Saal (room), and will end at 18:00. Registration closes January 22, 2014, which can be done by e-mailing ignatz-bubis-lehrstuhl@hfjs.eu.
I expect to learn a great deal, and hope to see and meet anyone interested in the topic next Sunday. The program will soon be available, but the preliminary presentation list includes the presenters and topics below:
Johannes Heil, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg
Introdudction
Einführung
Irina Alter, Slavic Institute/Slavisches Institut, Otto Friedrich-Universität Bamberg
Why the Gurlitt Case Could be Interesting for Russia
Warum der Fall Gurlitt für Russland von Interesse sein könnte
Corinna Budras, FAZ Frankfurt
From Schwabing into the Spotlight: The Gurlitt Case in the Center of the World Public
Von Schwabing ins Scheinwerferlicht -- Der Fall Gurlitt im Zentrum der Weltöffentlichkeit.
Wolfgang Ernst, Lehrstuhl für Römisches Recht und Privatrecht, Universität Zürich
The Gurlitt case as an example of the legal framework of restitution
Die juristischen Rahmenbedingungen der Restitution am Beispiel der Sammlung Gurlitt
Anat Feinberg, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg
The 1933 Aryanization of the „Old Playhouse“ in Stuttgart and the Battle of the Jewish Owners for is Return After the War
Die Arisierung 1933 des „Alten Schauspielhauses“ in Stuttgart und der Kampf des jüdischen Besitzers um die Rückgabe nach dem Krieg.
Felicitas Heiman-Jellinek, Museumologist/Museologin, Vienna/Wien
On the Theme of Private Lenders and the Problems Behind the Collections
Thema Deposita privater Leihgeber – zur Problematik hinter den Sammlungen
Nicholas M. O’Donnell, Attorney at Law, Sullivan & Worcester LLP New York/Boston
The Legal Bases and Practice of Restiution of Confiscated Art in the United States
Rechtsgrundlagen und Praxis der Restitution beschlagnahmter Kunstgüter in den USA
Henry Keazor, Kunsthistorisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg
Daniel Krochmalnik, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg
The Gurlitt Case—Demons and Psychic Deformations
Der Fall Gurlitt - Dämonen und psychische Deformationen
Emily Löffler, Seminar für Neuere Geschichte, Eberhard Karls-Universität Tübingen,
National Socialist Cultural Teheft as Media Event
NS-Kulturraub als Medienereignis
Katja Terlau, Kunsthistorikerin (Provenienzforschung), Art Historian (Provenance Researcher) Köln/Cologne
Hildebrandt Gurlitt and His Circle of Activity
Hildebrandt Gurlitt und sein Wirkungskreis
Jim Tobias, Nürnberger Institut, Nürnberg
The „Sturmer-Library“ and the Property Question After 1945
Die 'Stürmer-Bibliothek' und die Eigentumsfrage nach 1945
Annette Weber, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg
Art Needs and Responsiblity? The Reception for Previously Ostracized Art After 1945
Kunstbedürfnis und Verantwortung ? Zur Rezeption ehemals verfemter Kunst nach 1945.
Fritz Backhaus, Jüdisches Museum Frankfurt and Frieder Hepp, Kurpfälzische Museum Heidelberg
Closing Remarks
Schlussrunde
