Netherlands to return Van Goyen painting to Goudstikker heirs

The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science has decided to return a 1651 painting by Jan van Goyen, titled ‘Vissers aan de oevers van een plas’, to the heirs of Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.

The painting, which is part of the national collection and currently housed in the Mauritshuis in The Hague, was identified through provenance research as having been “involuntarily lost as a result of circumstances directly related to the Nazi regime.” Following an investigation by the Restitution Committee, it was determined that the artwork fell into the hands of Nazi leader Hermann Göring without the consent of Goudstikker’s widow, Dési Goudstikker, who was a major shareholder in the art business.

The committee noted that sales were facilitated by the appointment of a director favorable to German buyers and that some works were moved to Germany before formal purchase agreements were even signed. Jacques Goudstikker died in an accident while fleeing to England during the Nazi invasion. The request for restitution was submitted by Marei von Saher, the widow of Goudstikker’s only son.