The Kandinsky that came back after a refusal
A denied claim, a court challenge, and a later agreement changed the outcome.
Amsterdam bought Bild mit Häusern at auction on 9 October 1940, during the German occupation. The painting had belonged to the Lewenstein family. Its sale circumstances became central to a restitution dispute.
The Dutch Restitutions Committee rejected the claim in 2018. An Amsterdam court upheld that binding opinion in 2020. Those decisions are part of the record, but they were not the final outcome.
The municipality subsequently negotiated with the heirs. The painting was handed over on 28 February 2022 under a settlement. The case illustrates how a later agreement can resolve a claim previously refused through formal proceedings.
Artwork Details & DocumentationIdentification, ownership history and supporting records
Individual artwork identification details have not yet been documented in this record. Missing specifications are not inferred from the photograph or report headline.
Not documented in this record: object type · materials & technique · measurements · inscriptions & markings · distinguishing features · artwork title · maker / attribution · creation date / period · subject.
Record sources
Identification details follow the Object ID categories where documented. Ownership history is recorded separately; this documentation is not an authentication or a certificate of ownership.
Documentary sources
- Dutch Restitutions Committee: 2018 binding opinion ↗
- NOS: painting handed to heirs, 28 February 2022 ↗
An original ArtTraceX synthesis. Sources checked .