Provenance Research

Investigating the origins of artworks — tracing the history of a painting, drawing, sculpture, or any other object — is one of the core responsibilities of every museum and public collection. The journey of an artwork from its creation to the present can provide crucial insights into its meaning and cultural significance.

Background

Provenance research took on particular significance for the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen following the “Washington Principles” adopted by the Jewish Claims Conference in December 1998. These were followed by a declaration from the German Federal Government, the federal states, and major municipal associations, calling for the identification and restitution of cultural assets seized as a result of Nazi persecution — particularly from Jewish owners.

In response, museums and public collections across Germany committed to investigating the ownership history of works acquired between 1933 and 1945. At the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, provenance research has long been a central area of focus. As early as the museum’s founding, Director Werner Schmalenbach sought to clarify the origins of the works entrusted to him and those he acquired. His successors have continued this work with determination.

Since 2017, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Susanne Gaensheimer, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen has intensified its commitment to in-depth provenance research. The aim is to carefully reconstruct the ownership history of individual works and uncover the stories behind them. This work is carried out in close collaboration with experts and is advised by the Coordination Office for Provenance Research in North Rhine-Westphalia.

“Provenance research is one of the most important aspects of our collection work,” says Director Susanne Gaensheimer. “The founding of the Kunstsammlung in 1960 was not only a tribute to the work of Paul Klee, but also a gesture of reconciliation following the crimes of National Socialism. Engaging with this past and the responsibilities it entails continues to shape our institution today.”

Research Process

Provenance research at the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen has been carried out by the art historians and provenance researchers Volkmar Essers, Gesa Jeuthe Vietzen, Isgard Kracht, Anette Kruszynski, and — in the case of works by Paul Klee — by Stefan Frey. From 2009 to 2012, the museum received financial support from the former Berlin Office for Provenance Research (now part of the German Lost Art Foundation), enabling a systematic review of the collection.

This process included a thorough examination of the acquisition files, which contain correspondence, photographs, and other documentation. The backs of artworks were also inspected for labels, stamps, and inscriptions. Targeted and extensive research in domestic and international archives and libraries led to numerous clues regarding provenance.

Transparency remains a key priority for the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen. All findings have been compiled into a dedicated database. In 2012, the museum registered all works in its collection with unclear or incomplete ownership histories from the Nazi era (1933–1945) in the Lost-Art Database. Since summer 2024, the results of this ongoing research have also been publicly accessible via the museum’s Collection Online platform, where they are regularly updated and expanded.
 

For inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Vivien Trommer
Head of Collections
trommer@kunstsammlung.de 

Further information:
Coordination Office for Provenance Research in North Rhine-Westphalia (KPF.NRW)
Bachstraße 5–9
53115 Bonn