UNC-Chapel Hill鈥檚 held a restitution event Tuesday, returning a painting that Nazi collaborators took from a Jewish family during World War II.
The painting, 鈥淭he Studio of Thomas Couture,鈥� was part of a collection of more than 450 works belonging to Armand Dorville, a prominent French and Jewish lawyer and art collector. The collection was auctioned off during World War II in the 1940s, with proceeds intended to help the family escape Nazi persecution. But, his family said the piece was purchased by a Nazi collaborator, and the proceeds from the auction were seized by the Vichy government's Commissariat-General for Jewish Affairs.
Much of Dorville's family was then murdered at Auschwitz concentration camp.
Dorville鈥檚 descendent, Rapha毛l Falk, flew from France for the Ackland鈥檚 restitution event. It marked the first time he saw the painting. Falk praised the Ackland for being the first American museum to return art pieces to Dorville's descendents.
鈥淏y restoring this work, you are not only paying tribute to Armand Isaac Dorville, but also contributing to the preservation of truth and human dignity,鈥� Falk said. 鈥淵ou are giving a voice to those who have been silenced and helping to shed light on the dark pages of our collective history. Beyond being an art event, the restitution of this work of art helps to keep a history alive. Not just the history of a family, but the history of a persecuted people whose men, women and children were hunted down, imprisoned, tortured and murdered.鈥�
Falk said the painting was taken as part of Nazi 鈥渁ryanization,鈥� the taking of property from Jews in an effort to erase Jewish heritage from society.
Ackland officials said the museum obtained the artwork from a Parisian dealer in 1972, unaware of its recent history. Art historian 脡l茅anore Delabre, who lives in France, established contact with the Ackland after learning the museum was in possession of the artwork in 2022.
鈥淚t is incumbent upon the museum to make sure that the claim is valid,鈥� said Katie Ziglar, director of the Ackland Art Museum. 鈥淏ut once that information is carefully considered, then a resolution can come about. And if the work of art does not belong to the museum rightfully then, in our opinion, the only thing to do is to return it to its rightful owners.鈥�
Of the more than 20,000 objects in the Ackland museum, Ziglar described 鈥淭he Studio of Thomas Couture鈥� as a strong voice in teaching the museum鈥檚 10,000 student visitors each year. She said that while the painting will always be part of UNC-Chapel Hill鈥檚 history and legacy of teaching, it was very joyful to return the painting to Dorville鈥檚 family.
According to Ackland art curator Dana Cowen, the painting depicts the private studio of Thomas Couture, an influential painter and teacher to artists like 脡douard Manet. The painting has been included in exhibitions due to its historical significance as a record of Couture鈥檚 studio, with it being of particular interest to Manet scholars.
鈥淭hough we are sad to see this painting is leaving the museum's collection, the Ackland recognizes the historical injustice suffered by the Dorville family and its heirs by the crimes committed during the Nazi era,鈥� Cowen said. 鈥淭hrough the restitution of this work, we express our continued commitment to rectify such injustices of the past.鈥�
The painting is the 22nd work of art to be returned to Dorville鈥檚 descendants. According to a press release, other pieces remain located in various museums, including New York鈥檚 Metropolitan Museum of Art.
鈥淲e call on all museums, all nations and every individual to follow this example,鈥� Falk said at the Ackland鈥檚 restitution event. 鈥淭o fully acknowledge the past and to work together to build the future founded on the principles of responsibility, understanding, tolerance and peace. The restitution of this work is therefore a symbol, an essential step on the long road to raising awareness and educating people about the history of the Holocaust and its consequences."
Falk said that reobtaining Dorville鈥檚 entire collection will be a difficult task, and one that Dorville鈥檚 descendants will continue to pass on to their children. Falk said he hopes to obtain more pieces before potentially exhibiting the returned artworks together.
"For it is everyone's duty to fight anti-Semitism, and all forms of discrimination, so that the legacy of Armand Isaac Dorville and so many others is not tarnished by oblivion or denial," he added.
