This comprehensive guide delves into the remarkable journey of Paul Post, a Dutch retiree whose meticulous research into his father’s wartime diaries unexpectedly led to the recovery of a Nazi-looted 18th-century painting in Argentina, shedding light on the enduring quest for historical justice and the complexities of art restitution.
The discovery of a Nazi-looted 18th-century painting, “Portrait of a Lady,” hanging in a living room in Mar del Plata, Argentina, marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reclaim stolen Holocaust-era art. This remarkable recovery, leading to charges against the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi official, began not with official investigations, but with the quiet dedication of a Dutch retiree examining his father’s wartime diaries. This intricate saga highlights the enduring impact of personal histories, the power of persistent amateur research, and the complex path to justice for art stolen during one of history’s darkest periods.
A Father’s Legacy: From Wartime Diaries to a Global Hunt
Fifteen years ago, Dutch systems specialist Paul Post, then recently retired from Hewlett-Packard, rediscovered his father’s Nazi-era diaries while cleaning out his mother’s attic in Driehuis, outside Amsterdam. These notebooks, which he had glimpsed before, now offered him the time to delve deeply into their contents. His father, Wim Post, who passed away in 1976, detailed his work at the Netherlands’ diamond bureau when it fell under Nazi control in 1942. The diaries recounted the confiscation of approximately 71,000 carats of precious stones from the Amsterdam Diamond Exchange, an event that ignited Paul’s meticulous research.
As Paul Post delved into historical archives, a name consistently emerged: Friedrich Kadgien. This Nazi official was responsible for overseeing the systematic looting of diamonds and gold from occupied territories. Initially, Post’s primary goal was to trace the missing diamonds. However, his extensive research unexpectedly revealed that Kadgien was also believed to have possessed looted art, shifting the focus of his diligent, years-long investigation.
The Trail to Argentina: A Painting Spotted in a Real Estate Listing
The trail of Friedrich Kadgien after World War II was circuitous. After Germany’s surrender in May 1945, Kadgien initially fled to Switzerland. Historian Regula Bochsler notes that Swiss officials received tips about his large diamond transfers. By 1950, he had obtained a visa for Brazil, eventually settling in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Paul Post shared his findings with Dutch journalists, leading to investigative reporter Cyril Rosman publishing a piece about the diaries in 2015. In 2020, Post learned from the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands that Kadgien might have possessed “Portrait of a Lady,” attributed to Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi (though some historians suggest Giacomo Ceruti), and an Abraham Mignon still life. Despite informing the agency of Kadgien’s family in Mar del Plata, official help was limited, as researcher Perry Schrier noted the difficulty in knowing if the art was “on the wall in their homes.”
Undeterred, Post contacted Yael Weitz, an attorney for the Goudstikker family, in June 2024, offering leads on the paintings in exchange for information on Kadgien, but her team had nothing to share. It was a renewed collaboration with journalist Cyril Rosman, who engaged freelance journalist Peter Schouten in Buenos Aires, that ultimately broke the case. Schouten, attempting to contact Kadgien’s daughters in August 2024, noticed a “for-sale” sign at Patricia Kadgien’s home in Mar del Plata. Reporters checked the real estate listing photos, and to their astonishment, spotted the long-lost “Portrait of a Lady” hanging prominently in her living room. Rosman expressed his disbelief, “Is it really this simple, a picture that’s missing for 80 years is here above a couch in the living room?” as reported by Reuters.
The Recovery and Legal Battle
The day after journalists published their story, police raided Patricia Kadgien’s home. The painting, however, was gone, replaced by a tapestry. Eight days later, her attorney handed the painting over to authorities. Federal prosecutors subsequently charged Patricia Kadgien, 60, who runs a small clothing business, and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, a go-kart mechanic, with aggravated concealment. They are also investigating over 20 other drawings and prints, and two additional portraits seized from their home and her sister’s residence in Mar del Plata. Prosecutor Carlos Martinez stated, “The attitude was to hide the painting. We think that isn’t indicative of someone that doesn’t know what they have.”
Patricia Kadgien, through her attorney Carlos Murias, has denied knowing the painting was looted from the collection of Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker and denied hiding it. She filed a civil claim asserting her father’s sister-in-law legitimately bought the painting from the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne in 1943, and that she inherited it. However, the museum confirmed to Reuters that the painting was never part of its collection. Her claim also stated she removed the painting for “security reasons” after journalists contacted her, believing she was a victim of a “virtual scam.”
The Enduring Fight for Restitution: The Goudstikker Collection
The “Portrait of a Lady” belongs to the vast collection of Jacques Goudstikker, a prominent Jewish art dealer who tragically died in May 1940 while fleeing the Nazis. Before his death, he meticulously listed over 1,000 pieces in a small black book, including this very portrait. His collection was subjected to what historians describe as a forced sale, with top Nazi official Hermann Goering acquiring approximately 800 of his paintings. Attorney Yael Weitz confirmed that Goering’s associate, Alois Miedl, sold “Portrait of a Lady” to Friedrich Kadgien in 1944. The Goudstikker family has tirelessly fought for decades to recover their heritage, successfully reclaiming between 300 to 350 works, including 200 returned by the Netherlands in 2006. More information on their extensive efforts can be found through the Goudstikker Collection records.
Charlene von Saher, Goudstikker’s granddaughter, expressed her hope that the Kadgiens would “feel like doing the right thing and correcting a historical injustice,” describing the discovery as “like a movie.” While the exact value is yet to be determined, curator Paolo Plebani estimates its worth upwards of $100,000.
Argentina’s Complex History with Nazi Fugitives
Argentina has a well-documented and complex history with Nazi fugitives after World War II, having become a refuge for many, including notorious war criminals like Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele. Nazi-related discoveries occasionally emerge in the country, highlighting this dark chapter.
Recent events underscore Argentina’s ongoing engagement with this history:
- In February, President Javier Milei met with representatives of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, who sought assistance in accessing materials to investigate Nazi banking activities within Argentina.
- In May, the Supreme Court announced the discovery of thousands of Nazi labor organization membership booklets in its basement archives.
These events, alongside the recovery of the “Portrait of a Lady,” emphasize the continuous need to confront and understand the legacies of the Nazi regime and its aftermath in South America.
The Enduring Mysteries: Diamonds and the Amateurs’ Triumph
Despite the successful recovery of the painting, Paul Post’s initial quest for the missing diamonds tied to Friedrich Kadgien remains unresolved. Prosecutor Carlos Martinez confirmed that authorities found no valuable or war-period jewels in the Mar del Plata home. Saskia Coenen Snyder, a Dutch professor of modern Jewish history, notes the immense difficulty in proving that Nazis brought diamonds to South America, highlighting the formidable challenges of these investigations.
Paul Post’s “unlikely role” in this discovery, as described by Reuters, underscores the ongoing complexities of finding Nazi-looted art. An estimated 600,000 pieces were stolen from Jewish families during the Holocaust, with more than 100,000 still missing today. Post, an amateur, not a historian, exemplifies the invaluable contribution that determined individuals can make. As Professor Coenen Snyder aptly put it, “He’s a bit of a pit bull,” commending his years of tireless pursuit to uncover stories and truths that many others cannot or will not pursue.
The journey from an attic in Driehuis to a living room in Mar del Plata is a testament to the power of personal conviction and the unwavering pursuit of historical truth. It serves as a potent reminder that even decades later, the echoes of history continue to resonate, and justice, however delayed, can still be found.
