German Museum Repurchases Camille Pissarro Painting Looted by Nazis

Gallery assistants pose with an artwork entitled Gelee Blanche,
Jeune Paysanne Faisant Du Feu by Danish-French artist Camille Pissarro
at Sotheby's Galleries in central London on January 29. Photo: AFP
Gallery assistants pose with an artwork entitled Gelee Blanche, Jeune Paysanne Faisant Du Feu by Danish-French artist Camille Pissarro at Sotheby's Galleries in central London on January 29. Photo: AFP
TT
20

German Museum Repurchases Camille Pissarro Painting Looted by Nazis

Gallery assistants pose with an artwork entitled Gelee Blanche,
Jeune Paysanne Faisant Du Feu by Danish-French artist Camille Pissarro
at Sotheby's Galleries in central London on January 29. Photo: AFP
Gallery assistants pose with an artwork entitled Gelee Blanche, Jeune Paysanne Faisant Du Feu by Danish-French artist Camille Pissarro at Sotheby's Galleries in central London on January 29. Photo: AFP

Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie museum on Monday handed back and repurchased a painting by French Impressionist Camille Pissarro looted by the Nazis during the World War II from the collection of a Jewish lawyer, according to AFP.

Representatives of the lawyer Armand Dorville family signed an agreement for the museum to return and buy back "Une Place a la Roche-Guyon" ("A Square in La Roche Guyon"), part of the Berlin institution's permanent collection.

"I am very grateful to Armand Dorville's heirs for making it possible for us to purchase the work for the Alte Nationalgalerie and for coming to Berlin especially for this purpose," said Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK).

He did not reveal how much the museum had paid for the painting but said the family wanted it to remain on public display. Painted in 1867, "A Square in La Roche Guyon" was acquired by Armand Dorville in Paris in 1928. After moving to the south of France, Dorville died in 1941 and his collection was distributed to museums and private collectors.

The family was unable to flee occupied France and most members were killed by the Nazis, who occupied the country from 1940-1944. Several close relatives of Dorville's brother Charles perished at Auschwitz. The Alte Nationalgalerie acquired "A Square in La Roche Guyon" from a London gallery in 1961.

The Nazis stole thousands of artworks from Jewish families during World War II and their restitution has been a slow process, involving legal battles and complex searches.



Forum in Riyadh Explores Opportunities to Advance Global Digital Influence Industry

The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)
TT
20

Forum in Riyadh Explores Opportunities to Advance Global Digital Influence Industry

The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)

Over 1,500 influencers gathered in Riyadh to explore opportunities for advancing the global digital influence industry during the Impact Makers Forum, which continued into its second and final day.
The event brought together international influencers with a combined audience exceeding one billion followers and featured in-depth discussions and panel sessions about the future of digital influence.
The forum attracted over 30,000 visitors, solidifying its position as a premier platform for sharing expertise and highlighting successful experiences across various fields of influence. It also gave international influencers the opportunity to explore Saudi Arabia’s landmarks and flagship projects through specially organized tours during their stay.
Participants emphasized the need to strengthen the private sector’s role in shaping influence both locally and globally. They called for fostering innovation and collaboration to achieve sustainable impact across all domains.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of incorporating social and humanitarian dimensions into influencers’ messaging on social media and other new media platforms. Speakers stressed the significance of supporting community and charitable initiatives, such as providing aid in crises, drawing attention to humanitarian issues, engaging in volunteer activities, and raising awareness about critical national and global concerns.
Eng. Rakan Alfaizi, CEO of One Group, highlighted the growth of Saudi Arabia’s media sector, which he said encourages more collaboration between private and public sectors to create sustainable influence.
Discussions throughout the forum explored innovative ways to balance real-life and virtual spaces, particularly to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive social media engagement on younger and emerging generations.
In a panel discussion titled “Balancing Life and Influence in Social Media,” Adwa AlDakheel emphasized the importance of organizing energy to prioritize quality over quantity in accomplishments, explaining that success stems from passion and dedication to one’s field.
Abdullah Al-Hussein stressed the need to separate work and life, allocate specific time for each, and manage time effectively to maintain balance.
The ImpaQ forum launched on Wednesday in Diriyah, attracting leading global influencers, experts, and content creators. The event, the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia, spanned over 23,000 square meters and provided spaces for innovation, sharing impactful experiences, and creative workshops.