Letter to Marilyn Henry concerning the return of 'Portrait of Wally' by Egon Schiele

Note: This letter was sent to the late Marilyn Henry in an effort to articulate complicated thoughts pertaining to the unsettling resolution of a decades-old battle to recover the 'Portrait of Wally' by Egon Schiele from the clutches of Mr. and Mrs. Leopold.  It constitutes mostly an attempt to sort out conflicting emotions and to restore a semblance of historical truth to an international story of racially-motivated theft, punctuated by a half-century of injustice towards a Viennese family whose sole crime was to be Jewish.

August 17, 2010

Dear Marilyn:

I debated even writing this note regarding the return of Wally to Vienna—the scene of the crime, as it were.

The ceremony on July 29 was emotional. After all, we did wait for 12 years to see a case closed that, had cooler, pragmatic, and ethical heads prevailed, would have been resolved a long time ago.

But, there were none of the above at the time of the ‘event’, the seizure of Wally at the Museum of Modern Art on that fateful Wednesday afternoon, in early January, on the eve of its planned departure for Europe. Had Wally left the United States, there would have been nothing to discuss, no strategies to implement. More to the point, there would have been no restitution law in Austria, of the kind that we now see today being implemented, albeit in a limited way, but in a more efficient manner than in most other countries that boast similar laws.

Indeed, not only would there have been no restitution law in Austria, but Randy Schonberg would not have recovered Maria Altmann’s fabled Klimt paintings which set astronomically high records at auction. Randy would still be wondering exactly how to approach the Austrian government and would be haunting the halls of the State Department looking for someone with enough spine to go and rattle a diplomatic saber at an indifferent Austrian government.

Worst of all, Dr. Leopold and his wife would continue to enjoy in apparent indifference to the suffering of Holocaust victims and their families, the pride and joy of their collection—so many Schieles with provenances that would make one’s hair raise on one end, to defy logic—in an unholy alliance with the Austrian government’s representatives on the board of the Leopold Foundation.

And, yet, most of the above did not come to roost because Wally did not go home in January 1998, as it was supposed to like an obedient child whose estranged biological relatives were clamoring to keep it in the US so that they could have their day in court and assert their rights to it.

I made the mistake of sitting in the same row as Frau Leopold and her coterie of dowagers. She snickered through the entire ceremony not four seats away from me. The same woman who together with her late husband, Dr. Leopold, prevented the Bondi family for more than 12 years from recovering Wally, on legal, moral and ethical grounds with the Anschluss and the Holocaust as the historical backdrop.

On July 29, my stomach turned while I saw the glitterati of New York City and of our own Federal government fawning over Frau Leopold, she who kept justice at bay for 12 years. Some might say that the time had come for reconciliation. Well, perhaps, we should just shake hands with former war criminals and collaborators and call it a day. Let bygones be bygones, right? After all, what is done is done, and so we should all move on. America loves stories of redemption, but they should not apply to the Holocaust.

My two heroes on the 29th of July were Andre Bondi and Robert Morgenthau. Andre because of his steadfastness and his family’s persistence in seeking what was rightfully theirs, in the face of total indifference to their cause in the late 1990s, except for one small group of irreverent folks based in Washington, DC. Those who comprise the Holocaust Art Restitution Project or HARP.

More on that later…

Robert Morgenthau will always remain an outsized mensch in my personal pantheon of individuals to look up to, true mensches. He inherited the best genes in the world, those of his father, Henry Morgenthau, one of the few in Franklin Delano Rooselvelt’s cabinet who stood up in explicit terms against National Socialism and Fascism when it was not fashionable to do so. Decades later, Robert stood up against the American museum establishment, the art world, complacent Jewish organizations, and a meek, passive Federal bureaucracy, more interested in accommodating America’s allies than standing up for a single citizen over a single painting that turned out to be property stolen during the Holocaust. Robert did the right thing. What he called a Hail Mary pass, was actually a calculated moment that did not come out of left field , but the outcome of a thoroughly well-rehearsed strategy that would not have been put into motion, had everyone else done their job to safeguard Wally and the rights of American citizens like the Bondi’s.

First off, the Departments of State and Commerce who, instead of considering the possibility that the Bondi Affair was worthy of note and thinking a bit harder about the implications of an inquiry with the Austrian government over property looted during the Holocaust, whose true owners are American citizens, chose to place the overarching national interests of the United States over those of its citizens. Granted, the logic is well entrenched in customary international law, but such logic has been mercilessly applied as a foil against Holocaust victims seeking redress since the late 1940s. In other words, the Federal government was simply being consistent with its stated policy not to intercede on behalf of Holocaust victims and their families in a forceful and meaningful manner.

While State and Commerce were not willing to modulate what was fast becoming an international incident, the Senate Banking committee leadership, under Senator D’Amato, had voiced its concern over the fate of Wally and contemplated some drastic action that would require the painting to remain in the US until its provenance could be sorted out in the interest of justice for Holocaust victims and their families. There too, the will to act quickly vanished, presumably under pressure from some unnamed notables close to the Museum of Modern Art and who also bankroll the World Jewish Congress. With State, Commerce, and the Senate Banking Committee running for cover, there was no one left to support the Bondis in their plea to keep the painting in the United States, at least long enough so that their side of the story could be heard in a fair and objective manner.

Except for HARP. Founded by Willi Korte, Ori Soltes, then director of the Klutznick Museum at B’nai B’rith in Washington, DC, and myself in September 1997, HARP’s mission was and continues to be to document the historical cultural losses suffered by Jewish owners during the 12 year reign of the Nazis. The Bondis had contacted Willi Korte and asked him to dig up the historical documentation surrounding the illegal seizure of Wally by Friedrich Welz and its subsequent wartime and postwar fate, which landed it in the hands of Dr. Leopold. Willi then turned to HARP for assistance and asked HARP to use whatever means possible to create sufficient pressure to keep the painting in the US.

Meanwhile, in late December 1997, Judith Dobrzinsky wrote a lengthy article for the New York Times on the Schiele exhibit and the brewing controversy surrounding Wally and another painting, Night City III, which was being claimed by the Reifs. However, in the same article, Judith also wondered whether venality had played a role in the Bondis’ decision to seek the return of Wally since they knew that the painting was then worth an estimated 2 million dollars.

With that type of adverse publicity, the Bondis had very few people to whom they could turn. Certainly no one in the Federal and legislative branches were willing to assist them. Jewish groups were pretending that they didn’t exist. And what was a District Attorney of Manhattan to do?

HARP, in the mean time, was seeking an accommodation with MOMA, a middle ground which would form the basis for a dialogue over the fate of the painting, as long as they could remain in the US. The general counsel of the Museum of Modern Art issued a terse rebuff—the reply to HARP’s request for dialogue and postponement of the shipment of Wally to Europe was: “Come and sue us if you want to prevent the painting from leaving. You have until Thursday.” Or something to that effect.

Without the painting in hand on US territory, the Bondis had no case. Fortunately, there were a number of legal issues that surrounded the Schiele exhibit’s hasty entry into the United States. Those legal issues provided a minimal opening for the District Attorney’s office to contemplate an aggressive move against MOMA to secure the painting and protect the rights of the Bondis on the suspicion that the painting might in fact be stolen property.

But the District Attorney’s office could not consider any form of drastic action against MOMA. It waited for the federal government to act. On the Monday preceding the expected departure of the painting, the Federal and legislative branches pulled their pins out of the game. Morgenthau was truly alone. But he was ready, whether he admits it or not, to launch his action.

And so, Robert did what he normally does, but which stood out as an outrageous exercise of bravura against the caste of Brahmins, symbolized by the tier one museums of New York and their friends and sycophants and followers and admirers. It was more like the 7th Cavalry charging when all hope had faded. As he explained it to us—Willi, Ori, and I—he doesn’t tolerate stolen property in his jurisdiction, especially if it is tainted by crimes against humanity.

Wally was saved. All hell broke loose. New York Museums instantly vilified Robert Morgenthau as a villain who was about to rain an economic calamity onto New York City. This message was delivered in unison by every major cultural institution in Gotham.

Morgenthau contacted HARP and asked if we would supply him with an affidavit in defense of his action to safeguard the rights of the Bondis. We complied with pleasure. Ori Soltes did the honors as chairman of HARP. We sat in Robert’s rickety conference room under the watchful eye of his late father, Henry. We were in good company. As it turns out, HARP is the only group that provided such an affidavit in defense of Morgenthau’s action.

This is basically the story of HARP’s involvement in preventing Wally from leaving the United States and securing the rights of the Bondis to a fair hearing of their claim. Wally did not mysteriously stay in New York by some act of divine inspiration that befell Robert Morgenthau. Without plenty of assistance, he could not have acted without knowing what we knew about the already-emerging complexities of the case. What had started as a simple request to modify the provenance of a painting in MOMA’s catalogue of the Schiele exhibit turned into a nightmare, both for the museum community, the US government, the Austrian government, and, the Bondis.

The rest is history. But on that fateful Wednesday afternoon, history was made as a result of a month of intensive lobbying, all-out pressure, and persistence from a small group of individuals who simply wanted Wally and Night City III to remain in New York so that their origins could be sorted out in the name of justice for Holocaust victims and their families.

I am relieved for the Bondi family, but the relief is bittersweet.

The only outcome that we had envisioned as just was restitution, assuming that there would have been no systemic failings.

I commend Larry Kaye and Howard Spiegler of the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein, for having found the best possible result to allow for closure to a very unpleasant and painful and trying ordeal, prompted initially by a racial crime perpetrated against a Jewish woman who loved her Wally. At least, Wally returns to Vienna with a price tag attached to its frame. But at what cost?

Regards,
Marc Masurovsky

Marilyn Henry—In Memoriam

Marilyn Henry
Source: Wikipedia

A memorial service to celebrate Marilyn Henry's life was held on April 3, 2011, at the Temple Israel Community Center Congregation Heichal Yisrael in Cliffside Park, NJ.   Her husband, Shammai Engelmayer, is the temple's rabbi.  However, he did not address the congregation during the entire memorial service.  His assistant, Rabbi Mark Kiel, did the honors.

The ceremony was moving and ironic all at once.  Moving because Marilyn was one special woman.  Persistent to the end, deeply self-aware of her own mortality, ethical beyond reproach, funny and vulnerable, all wrapped into one petite frame with piercing eyes and a jarring smile that could disarm the most aloof of us.  The most outspoken defender of Holocaust survivors and their families is now quiet.  The only member of the international press corps to have devoted part of her career as a journalist to the issue of plunder and the fate of art objects stolen or misappropriated between 1933 and 1945 is no longer with us.  She leaves behind a gaping hole, which may never be filled again, somewhat akin to the abyss left behind at the Department of State in 1961 when Ardelia Hall, the one-woman army who fought for restitution of looted works of art to their rightful owners resigned from the Federal Government, never to be replaced. So ended America's lukewarm commitment to restitution of looted art, 50 years ago. 

Those leaders and officials of Jewish organizations whom Marilyn had excoriated during her lifetime all the while reminding gently of their responsibilities towards survivors came to honor her.  And this is where the irony is fitting, although I am sure that Marilyn must have wondered what possessed her husband to organize such a memorial in her honor.  Saul Kagan, chairman of the Claims Conference spoke eloquently about his ties to Marilyn and the support that he gave her to write her history of the Claims Conference.  Gideon Taylor, former executive director of the Claims Conference, addressed the assembly of more than 100 people to show his respect for Marilyn.  So did Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee.

Some of the congregants read letters of condolences from such luminaries as J. D. Bindernagel, who had served as director of the Office of Holocaust Affairs at the US Department of State, at the time of the Washington Holocaust Assets conference of December 1998.  He recounted how Marilyn had spotted him in a New York City street and hounded him with questions about his lack of support for the needs of Holocaust survivors.  I am sure that he felt stalked that day.  Howard Spiegler, of the law firm of Herrick Feinstein, also sent in a message in which he professed his respect for Marilyn's integrity, despite his disagreements with her.  Sir Martin Gilbert, the eminent British historian of the Holocaust, who had written a foreword to Marilyn's book on the Claims Conference, professed his deep sense of loss at Marilyn's passing.

In the audience: Greg Schneider, current executive director of the Claims Conference; Sam Norich, publisher of the Jewish Forward; Judge Judah Gribetz, Special Master of the Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation, the man responsible for the distribution of funds resulting from the Swiss bank settlement on heirless Jewish assets.  And Brigitte Sion, professor at NYU, who was also Marilyn's devoted translator.

Although everyone mourned Marilyn's passing and engaged in a farewell ceremony, I could only recount how much I missed her. See you later, Marilyn...

Death of Marilyn Henry

I regret to announce the passing of one of the most extraordinary journalists of the Jewish community who stood for the rights of Holocaust survivors throughout her active and dynamic existence. Her name: Marilyn Henry.

She will be always remembered for her relentlessness, her tenacity, her love of all things Jewish, and, most importantly, for her sincere attachment to the truth, regardless of where the chips may fall. Among other things, she is the author of a critical history of the Claims Conference. She was on the verge of completing a major work on art restitution. Marilyn Henry died yesterday evening at 9:28pm at her home near Teaneck, NJ. I've lost a great friend and survivors have lost an advocate.

Here are some samples of her writings:

• "Metro views: I choose life" (Jerusalem Post) - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=194271
• "Metro views: A guide to recovering Nazi-looted art" (Jerusalem Post) - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=190774
• "Metro views: If it ain't broke, fix it" (Jerusalem Post) - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=186287
• "Metro views: Justice is done, finally" (Jerusalem Post) - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=182475