Argentine police investigate Nazi heirs after stolen painting appears in property's ad

In Argentina, authorities are currently investigating the heirs of a deceased Nazi, Friedrich Kadgien, after a painting that was allegedly stolen during World War II surfaced in a property advertisement. The artwork, "Portrait of a Lady" by Giuseppe Ghislandi, was believed to have been originally taken from Dutch Jewish art collector Jacques Goudstikker's collection. Goudstikker fled the Netherlands in 1940, leaving behind his extensive collection of over 1,000 paintings, many of which were appropriated by top Nazi officials. Following the painting's discovery in a real estate listing for a home in Mar del Plata, Argentine police conducted a raid in search of the artwork, but it had mysteriously vanished by the time they arrived at the location. Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, were subsequently placed under house arrest as they became suspects in the case. Authorities have indicated the couple claimed they inherited the painting and asserted rights to ownership, even suggesting that potential legal claims would be subject to statutes of limitations. However, prosecutors argue that given the context of the theft, especially relating to the genocide during World War II, any possible claims are likely not bound by such statutes, leading to heavier legal implications for the couple. The investigation was triggered by a Dutch journalist, Peter Schouten, who first noticed the painting in the advertisement and alerted relevant authorities, prompting international attention on the matter. Though the artwork was briefly recovered, the subsequent search yielded no results, escalating the legal complications surrounding the heirs, and raising discussions over stolen art and restitution claims prompted by the Holocaust. The case continues to develop as the authorities work to recover the painting, which is a part of the tragic legacy associated with Nazi looted art.