There are 160 works on show, most of which were confiscated from German collections by the Nazis in 1937 and 1938 Keystone/Peter Klaunzer

An exhibition now open in Bern puts on show works of art forcefully taken from museums in Germany by the Nazis and classified as "degenerate art". Visitors can see pieces from the controversial Gurlitt collection, left to the museum by the son of a Nazi art collector.

This content was published on November 2, 2017 - 10:09

Jo Fahy

Otto Dix, Leonie, 1923 Colour lithograph on paper Kunstmuseum Bern, Bequest of Cornelius Gurlitt 2014. Provenance undergoing clarification / Currently no indications of being looted art © 2017, ProLitteris, Zurich. Kunstmuseum Bern





When Cornelius Gurlitt was found carrying €9,000 (CHF10,473) in cash by customs officials on a train heading from Zurichto Munich in 2010, no one could have expected the turns the story would take from there.

The amount was below the legal limit but it raised enough suspicions for German police to raid Gurlitt’s home in 2012.

The reclusive son of one of Hitler’s art dealers, his flat contained thousands of priceless works of art. Their discovery began a chain of events, eventually leading to the exhibition which opened Thursday at the Museum of Fine Arts in Bern.

The story behind the tainted treasure trove going on display is complex and extraordinary.





What’s in the exhibition?

On display are around 150 original works of art from the Gurlitt collection. There are some paintings, as well as works on paper representing various artistic movements including symbolism, expressionism and constructivism. The works are on