In a surprising and quietly arranged move, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne has returned the 17th-century painting Lady with a Fan by Gerard ter Borch to the descendants of a Jewish family from Germany who lost the artwork during the Nazi era. The transfer was only confirmed in the German Lost Art Database — without a public announcement from the museum.
Key details
• The painting was acquired by the NGV in 1945 for the equivalent of about £4,000.
• Despite its status and provenance questions, the museum handled the return in secret, sparking criticism over lack of transparency.
• The family who regained the painting — the Brombergs — had argued that a related Swiss-German claimant withdrew after new evidence surfaced.
• The case raises broader concerns: Should such significant works be labelled “national treasures”, allowing governments the right of first refusal? Many say yes.
What ArtExpoWorld thinks
This restitution is a powerful reminder that art carries memory, identity and justice, not just aesthetic value.
Even more, the silent way NGV handled it suggests that institutional responsibility remains murky — especially regarding artworks lost under oppressive regimes.
For us, the message is clear: behind every important painting lies a human story — sometimes buried, sometimes urgent.
Art is never just on the wall; it’s part of history and ethics.