Estimated at 180 million dollars, Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 painting Châtaigniers en fleurs faces a disputed ownership claim just days before a scheduled Manhattan auction on Wednesday as reported by RaiNews.
Heirs of German-Jewish publisher Samuel Fischer assert that the artwork was relinquished in 1936 due to economic pressure from Nazi antisemitic policies rather than through a free commercial choice. Sotheby’s contests this narrative.
The auction house said that its provenance investigations have not found sufficient evidence of a forced sale. Negotiations remain open between the heirs and Sotheby’s to reach a shared resolution.
Castagni in fiore at Sotheby’s
The painting dates back to the final months of van Gogh’s life in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, before his death in July 1890. It anchors the Blaquier-Arrieta collection, a private Argentine assembly formed in the 1960s by Carlos Pedro Blaquier and Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier.
Twelve works from the collection, including pieces by Monet, Gauguin, and Degas, carry an aggregate valuation of roughly 450 million dollars. Sotheby’s has financially guaranteed the lot, which appears on the catalog cover.
At 180 million dollars, the painting surpasses the previous auction record for the artist. That benchmark was set in 2022 when Verger avec cyprès sold for 117.2 million dollars, according to RaiNews data.
From Samuel Fischer to Nazi Germany
Samuel Fischer acquired the canvas from a Parisian gallery in 1909. His publishing house, S. Fischer Verlag, released works by Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, and Alfred Döblin.
Following Fischer’s death in 1934, his son-in-law Gottfried Bermann Fischer assumed leadership. Nazi persecution soon disrupted the firm, prompting Bermann Fischer to move to Vienna while entrusting the van Gogh and two Cézanne paintings to dealer Walter Feilchenfeldt in Amsterdam.
After exhibitions in Rotterdam and Bern, the painting was sold to a Parisian collector in 1936. It entered the possession of the Argentine family in 1975 through subsequent transfers.
Dispute Over the 1936 Sale
Fischer’s descendants argue that the transaction taking place in Amsterdam outside Germany does not rule out persecution-linked coercion. Capital restrictions and exit taxes heavily impoverished departing Jewish families.
Berlin attorney Gunnar Schnabel wrote to Sotheby’s restitution head Marco Toracca on November 12, 2026, asking the auction house to prove the sale occurred under normal market conditions, as reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano.
““Show that the painting was sold under market conditions and that the family would have decided to sell it even without the pressure of the regime,”” Schnabel told Il Fatto Quotidiano, adding that the auction should otherwise be suspended.
Heirs seek settlement guided by Washington Principles
The heirs indicate a willingness to pursue a fair settlement guided by the 1998 Washington Principles on Nazi-confiscated art. reported that Gisela Bermann Fischer, Samuel’s granddaughter and a former actress who worked with Alfred Hitchcock, fled Vienna as a child in March 1938 ahead of the Anschluss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently owns Châtaigniers en fleurs?
The painting belongs to the Blaquier-Arrieta collection from Argentina, which acquired the artwork in 1975 through intermediate buyers following its 1936 sale in Europe.
What valuation has Sotheby’s assigned to the painting?
Sotheby’s estimated the 1890 van Gogh masterpiece at 180 million dollars as part of a 450-million-dollar collection sale.
Which guidelines are the heirs invoking for a resolution?
The Fischer family heirs reference the 1998 Washington Principles, which provide a framework for resolving disputes over art displaced during the Nazi era.
Is the auction still scheduled to proceed?
Sotheby’s has not confirmed whether the painting will be offered on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, while discussions with the Fischer family continue.
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