Argentine authorities have intensified efforts to recover an 18th-century painting, “Portrait of a Lady” by Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, believed to have been looted by a Nazi fugitive, Friedrich Kadgien, who fled to Argentina after World War II. The artwork, originally owned by Jewish Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, was reportedly spotted in a Mar del Plata real estate advertisement by Dutch journalists.

The painting was identified through a photograph published in the real estate listing of a house where one of Kadgien’s daughters resided. Upon conducting a police raid at the residence, authorities found documents and items from the 1940s but no sign of the painting itself—only an empty hook and marks suggesting recent removal. Dutch experts believe the artwork seen in the listing is likely authentic, though they haven’t verified it physically.

The Netherlands’ Cultural Heritage Agency and Goudstikker’s heir, Marei von Saher, are eager to recover the painting. Kadgien, identified as the sole Nazi with that surname, was linked to Nazi leader Hermann Goering’s financial operations and lived unprosecuted in Argentina until his death in 1978.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts to restitute art looted by Nazis, particularly involving Goudstikker’s collection, much of which was sold to Goering. The recovery of such artworks is a complex process, often involving international cooperation and legal proceedings. The discovery in Argentina underscores the persistence of these efforts and the importance of cultural heritage restitution.

As investigations continue, authorities remain hopeful that the painting will be returned to its rightful owners, contributing to the broader movement of reclaiming cultural treasures lost during the tumultuous period of World War II.