The Art Institute of Chicago has provisionally prevailed in a legal battle over an Egon Schiele painting against Fritz Grünbaum's heirs, a Jewish collector dispossessed during WWII. Judge John G. Koeltl ruled on February 28, allowing the museum to keep Russian War Prisoner (1916). The decision refutes the heirs' attempt to reclaim the allegedly Nazi-looted artwork, initially disputed in November 2023.
Art Institute of Chicago, credit: ajay_suresh via Wikipedia
Koeltl's ruling dismisses allegations of unlawful acquisition by the museum and maintains the 2009 statute limitations, unaffected by the 2016 HEAR Act, against the heirs' claim. Despite ongoing challenges, including a New York investigation into WWII-confiscated art, the museum's representative asserts their lawful possession.
The dispute continues, with the museum facing a deadline to dismiss the counterclaim by March 13. The outcome remains pending, as legal arguments over the rightful ownership and historical grievances persist.
Selena Mattei