Nazi-Era Sale Dispute

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in a heated dispute with the heirs of a Jewish collector over a painting by Camille Pissarro. They claim it was sold under duress in 1941, and that’s a pretty big deal. The museum, on the other hand, says the collector got a fair price for the work. But here’s the thing: sales from that time are generally considered to be forced and void under French law, so it’s not like the museum has a solid leg to stand on.

A Questionable Sale

The heirs aren’t buying the museum’s story, and who can blame them? It’s not like the museum has a great track record when it comes to handling art with, shall we say, ‘complicated’ pasts. The museum’s defense won’t cut it, and it’s time for them to own up to their mistake.