A painting stolen by the Nazis during World War Two has been found in the home of descendants of a Dutch SS collaborator. The artwork, a portrait of a young girl, was taken from Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in 1940.
The painting is believed to have remained in the family of Hendrik Seyffardt, a Dutch general who later led a Waffen SS volunteer unit on the eastern front. He was killed by resistance fighters in 1943.
According to art detective Arthur Brand, the painting came to light after a family member learned about its history and felt disturbed by its past. The man, who is a descendant of Seyffardt, later contacted Brand for help.
He also reportedly confronted his grandmother, who admitted the artwork had been bought during the war and was likely looted Jewish property. She said it should not be sold and should remain hidden.
Investigation Reveals Links to Nazi-Era Auction
Following the tip-off, Brand began investigating the painting’s origin. He found a label and number on the back of the artwork that matched records from a 1940 Nazi-era auction in which Goudstikker’s collection was sold off.
The painting was listed under the title “Portrait of a Young Girl” by Dutch artist Toon Kelder. Brand believes it may have been taken by senior Nazi official Hermann Göring before being sold and passed down through the Seyffardt family.
The family has admitted owning the painting but said they were unaware of its true origin.
Brand said the discovery is one of the most surprising of his career. He added that similar looted artworks have been recovered before, but finding one linked directly to a known SS collaborator’s family makes this case especially rare.
Experts say the painting could be worth thousands of dollars, but its sale may be legally complicated because looted art from this period is often considered illegally acquired.
The case has once again highlighted the ongoing effort to trace and recover artworks stolen during the Nazi era, many of which remain missing or hidden in private collections across the world.
