29 August 2007
The Israel Museum in Jerusalem has made public a catalogue of works of art and Judaica looted during World War II that have since come into the possession of the museum. Israel’s main art museum is the first in the world to publish detailed information about artifacts that were possibly looted during Nazi rule. Founded in 1965, the Israel Museum holds several hundred works that have no record of prior ownership or came from institutions that ceased to exist during or after the war.
The catalogue can be viewed online and is accessible on the Israel Museum's website (www.imj.org.il). It gives information on paintings, drawings and Judaica objects and includes images, titles of works, names of artists, countries of origin, dimensions and other identifying characteristics. The website, which is entitled “World War II Provenance Research On-line”, was launched in cooperation with the newly-established Company for Location and Restitution of Holocaust Victims' Assets in Israel, which had pressured the museum and other public institutions in Israel to publicize the information in accordance with the law. The new website also provides instructions for requesting property restitution.
