We went and saw the “Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art” show at the Jewish Museum yesterday. Here is a description of the exhibit: During World War II, untold numbers of artworks and pieces of cultural property were stolen by Nazi forces. After the war, an estimated one million artworks and 2.5 million books were recovered. Many more were destroyed. This exhibition chronicles the layered stories of the objects that survived, exploring the circumstances of their theft, their post-war rescue, and their afterlives in museums and private collections.
This painting by Pissaro really got me. The story behind it is heartbreaking (let’s face it—the whole exhibit is!) But there was just something about that little girl Minette with her folded hands and innocent gaze that really pulled on the heartstrings.
The show is quite small but it is worth seeing. And while you are there, check out the permanent collections on the third floor.