The heirs of a Viennese art dealer are demanding the return of Gustav Klimt's painting "Water Serpents" (Silberfische), which is currently on display at the Albertina Museum in Vienna as a permanent loan from Bank Austria. The case was first reported by the Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard, highlighting another chapter in the ongoing efforts to recover Nazi-looted art.
The heirs claim the artwork constitutes Nazi-looted art, while Bank Austria vehemently disputes this assertion. The painting, created between 1902 and 1903, represents the only Klimt work in the Albertina's collection. According to Der Standard's investigation, the artwork became part of a deal in 1942 that transferred it through the then Reich Governor into the Austrian Gallery, now known as the Belvedere Museum.
Following its wartime transfer, the painting disappeared from public view for decades before passing through several private collections and eventually ending up in Bank Austria's possession. The bank has been lending the work to the Albertina Museum since 2012, where it remains on display for the public.
The legal representatives of art dealer Hans Lion's heirs (1885-1956), led by German attorney Hannes Hartung, assert that the work was seized from Lion during the Nazi period, making it clearly identifiable as Nazi-looted art. They argue that this forced seizure during World War II constitutes theft and demands restitution to the rightful heirs.
Bank Austria maintains a different position based on their own provenance research. The bank states that their investigations have found no evidence of Nazi-related seizure and that Lion's ownership of the painting has not been definitively established through documentation. This conflicting interpretation of the historical evidence has created a legal standoff between the parties.
The Albertina Museum has acknowledged the complexity of the case, stating that they are continuously reviewing the artwork's provenance in constructive dialogue with Bank Austria. However, the museum currently does not display any signage indicating unclear provenance next to the painting, suggesting they have not yet concluded that the work's history is definitively problematic.
Complicating the investigation is the incomplete documentation of the painting's ownership history between 1918 and 1942, a crucial period that includes the Nazi era. The tracking of the artwork has been further hindered by changing titles over the years, as the work has been referred to variously as "Silberfische" (Silverfish) or "Meeralgen" (Seaweed) in different contexts and collections.
The dispute has now escalated beyond European borders, with the heirs' attorney threatening to file a lawsuit in a United States court if the matter cannot be resolved through negotiation. Bank Austria has responded firmly, stating according to Der Standard that they see no legal basis for returning the artwork to the claimants, setting the stage for what could become a protracted international legal battle over this valuable Klimt masterpiece.
