Expert Opinion - Nazi Looted Art

44
Other works from the Hess collection are offered for sale by the KKV. On February
14, 1939 the art collector Budczies complains to Hagemann that he reviewed the
"Cologne list" the latter sent to him with interest, and "that it was a pity that nothing
can be bought." 25 Regarding Hess paintings in the possession of the KKV at the end
of 1938, Gosebruch advises Hagemann on December 5, 1938 not to buy these
paintings, in particularly not through the offices of the very gabby Mr. Klug because,
were Hagemann again to buy a painting, Klug would definitely feel obliged to
communicate to "urbi et orbi" [i.e. to everybody] that Hagemann had again acquired
a work of art at the KKV. 26 Two sales offices had been made available by the KKV to
Dr. Walter Klug, who until his official retirement on December 31, 1938, had been
the managing director of the KKV for 25 years. In addition to his work as director of
the KKV he used these offices for his private art dealings. 27 Any proceeds were to be
split equally between the KKV and Klug. 28 Gosebruch's warning of 12/15/1938
therefore clearly shows that Hagemann bought the "Berlin Street Scene" from Klug
and that the latter apparently announced to "urbi et orbi" that Hagemann from
Frankfurt had acquired the "Berlin Street Scene". On 5/22/36, in a rare moment of
candor, Gosebruch commented to Hagemann regarding Klug's character:
"Concerning your intention to sell off part of your collection - wouldn't Mr. Rudolf
Probs be a trustworthy person... In any case with his extensive education and his
reputable character, [he is] an altogether different sort than Nierendorf, Klug, and
their kind, who are, after all, nothing but traders.” 29
III.
Events Since 1934 in Chronological Order.
The following citations are excerpts which are followed by the date of the respective
letter and its number, as classified and printed in the book “Kirchner, Schmidt-
Rottluff, Nolde, Nay…” by Delfs, von Lüttichau and Scotti, Hatje Cantz-Verlag, 2004.
“I did not see the Kirchner paintings you mentioned at Nierendorf….It is possible that
these are pictures from a private collection that he is offering but are not displayed in
his showroom. I did not talk about you at all, and only mentioned generally my desire
to see the Kirchner pictures.”
“…Schmidt-Rottluff is moving. Therefore I postponed my visit. I like his newer,
slightly abstract art very much, which probably is not as yet represented in your
collection. Take the occasion to buy such a piece rather than burdening the
collection with average quality from Nierendorf’s sources, after you purchased those
grandiose examples of Kirchner's early style a year ago in Berne."
2/9/1934 No. 536 Gosebruch to Hagemann
“Dear Mr. Hagemann,...
When I think of the grandiose Kirchner exhibition held last year, I have no doubt that
in the pre-war (WWI) era Kirchner was the greatest genius of the German art
scene. Given your possessions you are positioned to build a museum for this major
German painter.”
4/12/1934 No. 547 Gosebruch to Hagemann