Argentina Investigates Allegedly Stolen Painting Linked to Nazi Officer

Authorities in Argentina are actively pursuing an 18th-century portrait believed to have been looted by a Nazi officer during World War II. This painting, attributed to the Italian Baroque artist Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, has recently come to light after being spotted in a real estate advertisement for a property in Mar del Plata.

The artwork is thought to have been taken from the collection of Jacques Goudstikker, a Jewish art collector who was forced to leave his extensive collection of over 1,000 pieces behind when he fled the Netherlands. Following Goudstikker's death, Nazi officials divided his collection, with the portrait reportedly ending up in the possession of Friedrich Kadgien, a fugitive who later settled in Argentina.

Responding to a tip-off from Interpol, Argentinian police conducted a raid on a coastal villa south of Buenos Aires. While they discovered several German documents and prints from the 1940s that may be linked to the painting, they were unable to locate the artwork itself. According to the prosecutor's office, law enforcement seized a carbine and a .32-caliber revolver during the operation, but the sought-after portrait remains elusive.

The search for the painting intensified after it was featured in a property advertisement, where it was reportedly displayed above a velvet sofa in the living room of a cabin owned by descendants of Kadgien. Researchers from the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands expressed optimism that the painting in question is indeed Ghislandi's Portrait of a Lady, although they noted that a physical examination would be necessary to verify its authenticity.

Argentina has a complex history concerning its post-war handling of Nazi fugitives, many of whom brought with them looted property, including artworks and other valuables. The government's current investigation reflects ongoing efforts to address the legacy of these historical injustices and to restore stolen cultural heritage.