Sotheby’s faces challenge over $180m Van Gogh sale in New York
Heirs of a former German owner argue the work was possibly sold under pressure during Nazi rule. Sotheby's says its research has not confirmed this.
Key points
- Sotheby's is set to auction Van Gogh's Châtaigniers en Fleurs in New York on Wednesday, according to the BBC.
- The painting carries an estimate of $180m (£136m).
- Representatives of the Fischer heirs claim it may have been forced into a sale under Nazi pressure.
- Sotheby's says its research has not established this and that it will work with the family toward a resolution.
Auction house Sotheby’s has said it is trying to settle a disagreement about a planned sale of a Vincent van Gogh painting, according to the BBC. The work, Châtaigniers en Fleurs, has an estimate of $180m (£136m) and is set to be offered in New York on Wednesday.
Lawyers and representatives for the heirs of the Fischer family argue that the work was possibly sold under pressure while the Nazis were gaining power. The Fischers were earlier German owners of the painting. Sotheby’s responds that its own inquiry has not confirmed this.
What the auction house has said
In a statement sent to the BBC, Sotheby’s wrote that questions about a work’s past ownership and its return to rightful owners are handled with great care. The firm said it has examined the painting’s ownership record in depth.
Sotheby’s also says it has been speaking with the family about the history of the canvas. It states that it wants to work with them constructively toward an outcome both parties can accept.
The painting’s ownership history
The title can be rendered in English as Blossoming Chestnut Trees. The painting is being offered as one part of a group known as the Blaquier-Arrieta Collection.
According to the auction house’s website, the record of the work’s owners reaches back to 1890. The site credits Samuel Fischer, a well-known German publisher, with buying it in 1909. After his death in 1934 it remained within his relatives’ hands.
The site also states that the painting was placed with the Paul Cassirer gallery in Amsterdam in 1932 or 1933. In 1936 it moved to Henriette and Marcel Kapferer in Paris. Four additional holders owned the painting before the work was offered at auction in 2026.
The heirs’ claim and why it matters
The family has appointed a lawyer, who has contacted Sotheby’s in writing, according to the New York Times. The lawyer reportedly told the house that the sale in Amsterdam took place before World War Two. He linked it to money losses that the family’s publishing business suffered under Nazi rule.
The BBC says it has asked the lawyer for a response, but none had been published at the time of reporting. The dispute remains unresolved, and it is not yet clear whether the New York sale will go ahead as planned.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Van Gogh painting being challenged?
Representatives for the Fischer heirs say the work may have been sold under pressure during Nazi rule. Sothebyu0026#039;s says its research has not confirmed that.
How much is the painting expected to sell for?
The painting carries an estimate of $180m (£136m), according to the BBC. It is due to be offered in New York on Wednesday.
What is Sothebyu0026#039;s response?
Sothebyu0026#039;s says it wants to resolve the matter with the Fischer family. It says its research so far does not show that the painting was sold under duress.
Sources
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