Priceless painting looted by Nazis during World War II returns to Poland from Japan

That’s a good start to return to the rightful owner, hope more European countries will follow the example to return the looted articles . I know European museums will go empty and do their banks. African and India subcontinent would love to have their treasure back.

There are still many others, not only in Japan but in other countries too.

The UK has won applause from the Chinese public when China's cultural authorities announced Wednesday that the European country had returned 68 smuggled Chinese relics after 25 years of negotiations. From article in 2018

If you don’t get your country’s looted pieces returned just think they’re on loan and they receive more exposure and views.

"He said it was “not easy” to explain the history behind the looted works..."

Japan had it all this time. What's not easy to understand?

He said it was “not easy” to explain the history behind the looted works as well as the need for their return.

But wasn't Japan on the same side, if not on the same team, as Nazi Germany? That would be a start to any explanation, but the lack of detail does arouse suspicions of that all too-common disingenuousness still distinguishing and disfiguring Japanese accounting of Showa militarism.

"" as well as the person who was in possession of the painting have decided to return it to Poland, without any costs.”"

WOW, Congratulation Japan and to the HERO who decided to return it to Poland and NO COST, there are still few Good Souls Around.

And Zelenzkyy ask Biden: "Give me that painting now, it's mine, mine, mine !!!!.."lol..

WOW, Congratulation Japan and to the HERO who decided to return it to Poland and NO COST, there are still few Good Souls Around.

You should look at the definition of "hero".

Finders keepers.

Why is it being “returned” to Poland if it is an Italian painting? And how did Poland come into possession of it prior to WW2? My guess is looting.

Ownership and the nationality of the artist are different.

"He said it was “not easy” to explain the history behind the looted works as well as the need for their return."

But wasn't Japan on the same side, if not on the same team, as Nazi Germany? That would be a start to any explanation, but the lack of detail does arouse suspicions of that all too-common disingenuousness still distinguishing and disfiguring Japanese accounting of Showa militarism.

Nice try, but you are quoting a Polish Culture Minister. Is Poland trying to cover up Showa militarism as well?

Quote from article for those who haven't read it: "It was looted during the war and was sold at a New York auction in the late 1990s."

Presumably it was sold to a private owner from Japan in the 1990s, no?

It can't be "priceless" as it was sold in auction, presumably for a price.

Beautiful, Glad it's back in the right hands.

Stolen goods want to return to their rightful owners. Humankind is able to understand the language of the stolen goods. A noble movement is in the offing. One can never write off the potential that is in us for doing the right thing. Long live humanity.

wonder how " Poland's 18th century aristocrat Stanislaw Kostka-Potocki " got hold of it....

Return “it” to an aristocrat? Reminds me of the Nigerian, well Benin, objects recently returned to Nigerian nobility.

Imagine if all "looted" treasure was returned to it's rightful owners. I think quite a few museums would have to close!

Returning it was absolutely the right thing to do.

Return it to whom? History had many bubbles.

The British Museum for one. There is a huge basement area full of unopened wooden crates from hundreds of years because the explorer wasn't noble or important enough. There are also off-limit basement galleries.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2018/09/05/british-museums-basement-of-treasures-to-remain-off-limits

The museum has more items than it could ever display.

Elgin Marbles.

No blame on Japan as it was sold in 1990 in aNY auction. Did the US did not intervene at that time ? Didn’t they know about this painting ?

That’s also a question to answer

Art auction houses check the provenance of a painting but they don't do a deep dive. They want to make money.

Provenance was once seen as a nearly infallible way to verify the authenticity of a piece. However, even this careful process can be faked by those knowledgeable enough.

The art market is a scam run by rich people.

That’s also a question to answer

No it's not, it's going back to where it belongs and all you are doing is picking at scabs looking to point fingers.

 but the lack of detail does arouse suspicions of that all too-common disingenuousness still distinguishing and disfiguring Japanese accounting of Showa militarism.

You really need to go back further, Showa's militarism was nothing new, it started back further during Meiji.

The Turchi painting is the first artifact to be returned from Japan.

Turchi was apparently influenced by Michaelangelo's masterpiece, "Pieta", when he painted his "Madonna with Child". Could Turchi surpass Michaelangelo? I wonder.