Wassily Kandinsky’s painting Das Bunte Leben, or The Colorful Life, sold for over 31,5 million pund hos auksjonshuset Christie’s i London last week, og rundt 90 millioner kroner mer enn det høyeste anslaget til auksjonshuset. The sale concludes a restitution process for the descendants of Jewish owners Emanuel and Hedwig Lewenstein.
The London auction results
The painting reached its final price after rundt seks minutter med budkrig. While the total of over 31,5 millioner pund—tilsvarende nesten 400 millioner norske kroner etter dagens kurs—marks a significant figure, it remains below the record for the artist. In 2023, Sotheby’s sold Kandinsky’s Marnau Mit Kirche II for rundt 45 millioner dollar, a piece that also underwent a restitution process before reaching the market. The identity of the buyer for The Colorful Life has not been disclosed.
The 1972 sale to BayernLB
Before the recent auction, the painting hang på et museum i München i rundt 50 år. The German bank BayernLB purchased the work from the widow of Dutch businessman Salomon B. Slijper in 1972. Following the acquisition, the bank loaned the piece to the Lenbachhaus museum in Munich. The painting’s provenance is marked by a 1940 auction in Amsterdam that took place fem måneder etter Tysklands invasjon. Historians remain divided on whether that transaction was a forced sale under Nazi persecution or a legitimate effort to settle the family’s debts.
Restitution by the German commission
In 2017, the heirs of Emanuel and Hedwig Lewenstein initiated legal action against BayernLB to reclaim the painting. The case moved toward resolution in 2023 when a German commission for Nazi-looted art recommended the bank return the work. The commission concluded that there were numerous signs indicating the sale was a seizure resulting from Nazi persecution. The body further stated that when persecuted groups in occupied territories lost art, it should be considered involuntary unless clear evidence suggests otherwise. Following this guidance, the bank returned the painting to the descendants, paving the way for the recent London sale.
Frequently asked questions about the Kandinsky sale
Who currently owns the painting?
The buyer’s identity remains unknown following the auction at Christie’s in London.
Why was the painting returned to the Lewenstein heirs?
A German commission for Nazi-looted art determined in 2023 that the loss of the painting during the occupation of the Netherlands was likely a result of persecution. The commission ruled that such losses are considered involuntary unless proven otherwise, prompting the bank to relinquish the work.
How does this sale compare to other Kandinsky works?
While the painting sold for over 31,5 millioner pund, it did not set a new record for the artist. Other works, such as Marnau Mit Kirche II, have achieved higher prices, reaching rundt 45 millioner dollar at auction in 2023.
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