The painting, which changed hands on Wednesday, belonged to Friedrich Kadgien, a Nazi financier, and is now in the possession of his daughter, Patricia Kadgien. She and her husband have been under house arrest since Tuesday and will face a hearing on Thursday due to allegations of hiding the artwork and obstructing justice.
A Dutch newspaper followed the trail of the painting and published its findings on August 25. The following day, federal prosecutor Carlos Martínez conducted a search of Kadgien’s property in Mar del Plata, although the painting had been moved. The police, however, seized two unlicensed firearms and two mobile phones.
Additional raids on Monday discovered two other paintings that may date back to the 19th century, as well as several drawings and engravings. Authorities are currently examining these works to determine if they too were looted during World War II.
A federal court in Mar del Plata placed Kadgien and her husband under house arrest for 72 hours on Tuesday.
After the fall of the Third Reich, various high-ranking Nazi officials fled to South America. Friedrich Kadgien fled the Netherlands in 1946, eventually settling in Argentina, where he had two daughters. The painting has reportedly remained in the family since his death in 1978.
The stolen artwork was among over 1,000 pieces of stolen art looted by the Nazis from dealer Jacques Goudstikker, who died in 1940 after falling from the ship carrying him to safety. Goudstikker’s heirs are reportedly planning to reclaim the painting.
