On this bonus episode, we take a deep dive into the story of one particular Nazi-looted painting. The saga of Egon Schiele’s Portrait of Wally (1912) spans six decades, beginning in 1950s Vienna before making its way to New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The major case, one of the earliest to address the issue of Nazi restitution, has a legacy that endures to this day.
We’re joined by art lawyer Nicholas M. O’Donnell, author of the new book A Tragic Fate: Law and Ethics in the Battle Over Nazi-Looted Art, who walks us through the painting’s dramatic backstory.
This podcast is hosted by Artsy Associate Editor Isaac Kaplan, joined for this edition by Nicholas M. O’Donnell. It was produced by Editorial Associate Abigail Cain.
Intro music: “Something Elated” by Broke For Free