Dr. Barbara Staudinger in conversation with Miriam Friedmann,
Augsburg and Anja Zechel, Staatsgemäldesammlung.
The intervention “Our Values” in the permanent exhibition runs until April 11. One station focuses on the value of “justice”. Justice is a concern of society as a whole, because it combines the right to freedom, the equality of all people and the protection of the weak. Justice thus mediates between the individual and society and implies responsibility for both the individual and the community. In everyday usage, the term is often used, mostly when it comes to demanding justice. However, the fact that justice can also mean ceding rights or possessions is not very popular.
Among other things, the oil painting “Bauernstube” (Farmer’s Parlor), which was confiscated by the National Socialists along with the assets of Ludwig and Selma Friedmann of Augsburg in 1943, can be seen on loan in the intervention. Later, it came to the Staatsgemäldesammlung (Bavarian State Collection of Paintings), from which it was restituted to the Friedmanns’ community of heirs in 2018.
On the occasion of the exhibition intervention, we have invited Anja Zechel, provenance researcher and responsible for “Acquisitions 1933-1945” at the Staatsgemäldesammlung, to talk with Miriam Friedmann, granddaughter of Ludwig Friedmann, who acquired the painting in 1919.
Anja Zechel will talk about the clues that put her on the trail of the painting’s provenance in 2017, as well as about her work and the difficulties of finding the rightful owners* of works of art. Miriam Friedmann will tell the story of her family and the painting.Museum director Barbara Staudinger moderates the Zoom talk. As the intervention cannot be visited at the moment, we provide a short online tour!