Argentine couple ordered to return Nazi-looted painting to rightful heir

The painting was among more than 1,000 works looted from the collection of Jacques Goudstikker following the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. It was rediscovered in August 2025 when the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad spotted it in an estate agent’s photographs of a property for sale in the coastal town of Mar del Plata.

The house belonged to Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a Nazi fugitive who fled to Argentina after the Second World War. According to the BBC, Kadgien has agreed to return the painting in exchange for not being prosecuted for concealing it from authorities.

The heir, Marei von Saher, Goudstikker’s daughter-in-law and sole heir, has previously said her family “aims to bring back every single artwork robbed from Jacques’ collection, and to restore his legacy”. The Argentine newspaper Clarín reports that von Saher intends to lend the painting temporarily to the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires to raise awareness about looted art.

The case highlights the ongoing, painstaking work of tracing art stolen during the Holocaust, with many pieces still missing decades after the war.

Why This Matters

This ruling reinforces that Nazi-looted art can be recovered even decades later and across continents, setting a legal precedent for similar cases.
The temporary loan to a Holocaust museum will educate the public in a country that served as a refuge for many Nazi fugitives.
It represents a small piece of justice for the thousands of artworks still missing from Jewish collections plundered during the war.

Background

During World War II, the Nazis systematically looted art from Jewish owners across Europe. Hermann Göring, Hitler’s deputy, amassed a huge personal collection, often with the help of advisers like Friedrich Kadgien. After the war, many stolen works ended up in private hands, often passed down through families of former Nazis who fled abroad. Argentina, in particular, became a destination for ex-Nazis. Restitution efforts have recovered hundreds of pieces over the decades but thousands remain unaccounted for.

Key Perspectives

Marei von Saher (heir): Seeks to recover every piece of the Goudstikker collection and restore her father-in-law’s legacy as an art dealer. Patricia Kadgien (current possessor): Avoided prosecution by agreeing to return the painting, ending a potential legal battle. Critics/Skeptics: Some argue that restitution struggles to address the sheer volume of stolen art and that many treasures remain hidden in private collections or museums.

What to Watch

Whether the painting is indeed exhibited at the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires and for how long.
Any further artworks from the Goudstikker collection that may surface as publicity from this case draws attention.
Legal developments in other countries regarding similar restitution claims against descendants of Nazi officials.

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