The Leopold Cause
Since the resolution of the art restitution law in 1998, the IKG strives for the rightful owners regaining their artworks from the Leopold Collection. Paintings from artists such as Schiele, Klimt or Egger-Lienz were looted during the Nazi regime, and after that acquired by the Republic of Austria with public funds for the private foundation. The collector Rudolf Leopold argues, the regulations of the art restitution law can only apply to Federal Museums and Collections but not to private foundations. Legal experts, consulted by the IKG, are objecting this supposition.
The cause for the debate on looted art in Austrian museums and collections has been the confiscation of two Egon Schiele paintings from the Leopold Collection in 1998, after an exhibition in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Since the autumn of 1998, an art restitution law does exist in Austria. It governs the restitution of looted art from the Nazi era by authorized ministers of the Federal Government to the primary owners or their legal successors. The Leopold Collection as a private foundation stands in a legal grey area and so far, has not responded to restitution demands. It is true, the regulations of the art restitution law only refer to Federal Museums and ollections. However, the law does not include a clause prohibiting the private refunding of looted art.
Example Cases
Karl Mayländer
"Self-portrait with red hair and striped oversleeves"
(Egon Schiele)
In 1941, Karl Mayländer was deported to Lodz and did not survive the Holocaust. His assets were seized by the Gestapo, and Schiele’s "Self-portrait with red hair and striped sleeve guards" was amongst them.
Rudolf Leopold knew this – and purchased it from Etelka Hofmann who is not, however, considered the legitimate inheritor. Mayländer’s nephew, on the other hand, is. We demand: the resitution of the looted art in the Leopold Museum.
Schiele: "Self-portrait with red hair and striped oversleeves"
Jenny Steiner
"Houses by the sea"
(Egon Schiele)
No, the Nazis have not only confiscated real houses. But those in valuable artworks, too. For example, "Houses by the Sea" by Egon Schiele. Their owner, Jenny Steiner, had to flee in 1938; the painting was cynically used by the Nazi authorities in the context of the "Reichsfluchtsteuer" (the Reich’s flight tax).
Rudolf Leopold, aware of its background, acquired it in 1953. And he does not have to give it back. He is excluded from the art restitution law…
Egon Schiele: "Houses by the sea"
Responses by Rudolf Leopold
"These people only care about money."
In "Falter", issue 8/08, Rudolf Leopold talks about the Rothschild family as an example for "these people" who would allegedly auction off the returned artworks as soon as possible. The fact is "These people" care about the restitution of their possessions – the looted art that remains in the Leopold Museum.
"He was a bit national, well, national socialist – a little."
On June 28, 2001, Rudolf Leopold talked to Peter Huemer on "Ö1" about his friend and acquisition consultant Franz Kieslinger who was involved in the Nazi’s art theft in the Ostmark (Eastern March), in Poland and in the Netherlands.
"Lots of Lies and factoids are being passed on!"
On March 26, 2008, Rudolf Leopold talks about Ariel Muzicant in "Die Presse" – regarding the restitution of looted art from his "private foundation" that is financed by the State with 160 million euro.