Nazi-looted cultural property

Gustav Lübcke Museum in Hamm explores 70 selected paintings and graphics

The Gustav Lübcke Museum in Hamm has begun investigating the provenance of 70 selected paintings and graphic works. In 2016, two objects from the collection were clearly identified as cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution and returned to the descendants of the former owners in 2019.

6. October 2021

Contact

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Do feel free to get in touch with us directly – whether at the Foundation’s headquarters in Magdeburg or at our branch office in Berlin.
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German Lost Art Foundation

Humboldtstr. 12
39112 Magdeburg

Germany
Phone:  +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail:  kontakt@kulturgutverluste.de
Social:

German Lost Art Foundation Berlin Branch Office

Seydelstr. 18
10117 Berlin

Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail: kontakt@kulturgutverluste.de

The Help Desk offers advice and assistance to victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants on questions relating to Nazi theft of cultural property. Serving as a central and initial low-threshold point of contact in Germany, it is aimed in particular at people whose place of residence is outside Germany and who are unfamiliar with German procedures, especially in connection with cultural federalism. The Help Desk seeks to provide support in taking initial steps as well as providing further contacts and information. We will also be happy to help initiate discussions with museums and other institutions.

German Lost Art Foundation, Branch Office
Dr. Susanne Meyer-Abich
Head of Help Desk

Seydelstr. 18
10117 Berlin

Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail: helpdesk@kulturgutverluste.de

The basis for comprehensive scientific research into the collection was the project “Provenienzforschung in NRW” carried out in 2019 in close cooperation between the regional associations Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe and the Landschaftsverband Rheinland in various museums.

The results of the investigation revealed that a scientific reappraisal is necessary at the Gustav Lübcke Museum, as the provenance of numerous pieces – especially from the years 1933 to 1945 – is unclear. Thanks to funding from the German Lost Art Foundation, the project entitled “Verdachtsfälle im Gustav-Lübcke-Museum. Erforschung ihrer Provenienz”, which has been running since August 2021, the provenances of 70 selected paintings and graphic works from the accession years 1933 to 1962 are being systematically examined. The project results will be entered into a collection database and published online. Furthermore, there is a plan to present the research results in an exhibition with an accompanying publication and, depending on the results, a symposium at the Gustav-Lübcke-Museum.
Project description