The recovery of a Nazi-looted painting in Argentina, after decades of being hidden, is the result of a remarkable journey initiated by Dutch retiree Paul Post, whose father’s wartime diaries unexpectedly revealed a connection to the Nazi official Friedrich Kadgien and his stolen treasures. This event underscores the persistent fight for historical justice.
In a story that reads like a cinematic thriller, a Dutch retiree’s quiet determination has led to the dramatic recovery of a valuable 18th-century painting, “Portrait of a Lady,” looted by Nazis during World War II. The painting was discovered in Argentina, hanging in the living room of the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi official, decades after it was stolen. This remarkable tale of historical detective work highlights the ongoing complexities and moral imperatives of art restitution.
A Father’s War Diaries Resurface: The Genesis of a Quest
For Paul Post, a 74-year-old former systems specialist for Hewlett-Packard, the journey began in 2010. While cleaning out his mother’s house in Driehuis, outside Amsterdam, he rediscovered three notebooks containing his father’s Nazi-era diaries. His father, Wim Post, who passed away in 1976, had chronicled his experiences working in the Netherlands’ diamond bureau during the Nazi occupation.
These diaries detailed how the Nazis systematically confiscated approximately 71,000 carats of diamonds from the Amsterdam Diamond Exchange in 1942. As Post, then recently retired, delved into this hidden family history, one name consistently appeared: Friedrich Kadgien.
Friedrich Kadgien: The Nazi Official and His Looted Legacy
Friedrich Kadgien was a central figure in the Nazi regime’s looting operations, responsible for plundering diamonds and gold from occupied territories. Post’s initial research focused on tracing Kadgien’s post-war movements, hoping to uncover the fate of the missing diamonds. However, through unexpected turns, he learned that Kadgien was also believed to have possessed looted art.
Kadgien’s flight from justice began shortly before Germany’s surrender in May 1945, when he fled to Switzerland. By 1950, he had obtained a visa for Brazil and eventually settled in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This relocation pattern was common for many Nazi war criminals seeking refuge in South America, including notorious figures like Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele.
The Unexpected Discovery: “Portrait of a Lady” in Mar del Plata
Post’s diligent research, combined with the efforts of Dutch investigative journalist Cyril Rosman, eventually led them to Patricia Kadgien, Friedrich Kadgien’s 60-year-old daughter, residing in the peaceful seaside town of Mar del Plata, Argentina. The crucial breakthrough came in August when reporters, attempting to contact Patricia, noticed a “for-sale” sign in her yard. Checking the real estate listing, they were astounded to find a photograph of the painting, “Portrait of a Lady,” hanging prominently in her living room.
The painting, initially attributed to Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi (though art historians now suggest it may be by his contemporary Giacomo Ceruti), had been missing for approximately 80 years. Its rediscovery through a casual real estate photo highlighted the often-serendipitous nature of art restitution efforts.
Police Raid and Charges: The Immediate Aftermath
The day after the journalists published their story, police raided Patricia Kadgien’s home. Initially, the painting was gone, replaced by a tapestry of horses. However, eight days later, her attorney, Carlos Murias, handed the painting over to authorities. Murias stated that Patricia Kadgien denied knowing the painting was looted from the collection of Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker and denied concealing it.
Federal prosecutors in Argentina subsequently charged Patricia Kadgien, who runs a small clothing business, and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, a go-kart mechanic, with aggravated concealment. The investigation has expanded to include more than 20 drawings and prints, along with two other portraits seized from their home and her sister’s residence in Mar del Plata. Prosecutor Carlos Martinez commented to Reuters, “The attitude was to hide the painting… we think that isn’t indicative of someone that doesn’t know what they have.”
The Legacy of Loot: Goudstikker’s Collection and the Fight for Restitution
The “Portrait of a Lady” belongs to the collection of Jacques Goudstikker, a prominent Jewish art dealer who died in May 1940 while fleeing the advancing Nazis. He had meticulously listed “Portrait of a Lady” among over 1,000 pieces in a small black book. After his death, top Nazi official Hermann Goering acquired approximately 800 of Goudstikker’s paintings in what historians describe as a forced sale. Yael Weitz, the attorney representing Goudstikker’s family, confirmed that Goering’s associate, Alois Miedl, sold the painting to Kadgien in 1944.
Goudstikker’s family has dedicated decades to recovering his stolen art, successfully reclaiming 300 to 350 works to date. This includes 200 pieces returned by the Netherlands in 2006, many of which had been hanging in museums. Charlene von Saher, Goudstikker’s granddaughter, expressed hope that the Kadgiens would “feel like doing the right thing and correcting a historical injustice,” describing the discovery as “like a movie.”
Competing Claims and Lingering Mysteries
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Patricia Kadgien has not conceded. She has filed a claim in civil court asserting that her father’s sister-in-law legitimately purchased the painting from the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne in 1943, and that she inherited it. However, the museum has informed Reuters that the painting was never part of its collection. Kadgien’s claim also states she removed the painting from her home “for security reasons,” believing she was the victim of “a virtual scam” when journalists contacted her.
The painting’s estimated value is upwards of $100,000, according to Paolo Plebani, curator at the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, though Goudstikker family attorneys emphasize the need for expert examination to confirm its condition and artist. Meanwhile, Post’s initial quest for the missing Nazi diamonds tied to Kadgien remains largely unresolved. Authorities in Mar del Plata did not find any war-period jewels in Kadgien’s home.
Argentina’s Complex Nazi Past and Ongoing Investigations
Argentina has a complex history regarding Nazi-related discoveries. After World War II, it became a refuge for both Holocaust survivors and numerous Nazi war criminals. Such discoveries occasionally surface, underscoring the nation’s ongoing struggle with this dark chapter. In February, Argentine President Javier Milei met with representatives of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to discuss access to materials for investigating Nazi banking activities in the country, as reported by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Additionally, in May, the Supreme Court announced the discovery of thousands of Nazi labor organization membership booklets in its basement archive, highlighting the pervasive reach of Nazi networks.
The Unlikely Investigator: Paul Post’s Enduring Dedication
Paul Post’s amateur, yet incredibly effective, role in this discovery highlights the profound challenges and personal dedication required to uncover Nazi-looted art. With an estimated 600,000 pieces stolen from Jewish families and over 100,000 still unreturned, the task is monumental. “I’m just an amateur, I’m not a historian, nothing at all,” Post modestly stated. However, his steadfast belief in his research proved instrumental.
Saskia Coenen Snyder, a Dutch professor of modern Jewish history, praised Post’s tenacity, describing him as “a bit of a pit bull.” His years of dedicated pursuit have not only led to a significant art recovery but also brought renewed attention to the persistent fight for historical justice and the complexities of reclaiming treasures stolen during one of humanity’s darkest periods.
