After nearly fifty years of mystery and speculation, the tale of Pieter Brueghel the Younger's stolen painting, "Woman Carrying the Embers," has taken a remarkable turn with its recovery recently confirmed by Dutch authorities.
Once thought lost to history, the round painting, measuring only 17 centimeters, was seized from the National Museum of Gdansk, Poland, back in 1974 during the communist era. Richard Bronswijk of the Dutch police stated, "We are 100% sure this is the painting stolen from the National Museum of Gdansk in 1974," confirming the artwork's identity.
The theft was discovered on April 24, 1974, when museum staff accidentally knocked the painting from the wall. To their shock, instead of the celebrated Flemish masterpiece, they found only a cut-out reproduction from a magazine, as detailed by Mariusz Pilus, an expert on Polish art, who recounted the event vividly. His findings were published in the art journal Arts Sherlock.
The case took on sinister overtones when, shortly after the painting's disappearance, a Polish customs officer who had reported illegal art exports via the Baltic port of Gdynia was murdered, buried under suspicious circumstances before police could question him. Reports suggest the investigations surrounding both the officer's death and the painting’s theft were hastily closed, casting a long shadow over the incident.
Despite initial fears it would vanish forever, the artwork resurfaced unexpectedly last year when journalists from the Dutch art magazine Vind spotted it at an exhibition. It was being loaned to the Museum of Gouda by a private collector, triggering renewed interest and investigation.
Arthur Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones" of the art world for his knack of recovering stolen treasures, led efforts to confirm the painting's identity. Speaking to AFP, he explained, "The journalists of Vind were initially unsure if it was Brueghel's work, but it resembled it very much." Background research revealed old, black-and-white photographs of the painting tied to the 1974 theft.
Combining his detective work with police resources, Brand consulted Interpol’s database, where he identified the painting as the very one listed. "I was able to conclude the painting listed by Interpol and the one on display were the same," he confirmed.
Bronswijk elaborated on their exhaustive verification process: "We have verified and reverified, including the information on the back of the painting. It matched!" The discovery fueled excitement within the art community over the possibility of returning the piece to its rightful home.
Its value remains undetermined, though Christie's auction house suggests works by Brueghel the Younger often sell for millions. The Dutch police are currently investigating how the painting ended up within private collections and what measures will be taken to restitute it.
Curators at the Museum of Gouda expressed surprise upon learning about the painting's background but echoed excitement at its recovery. They hope the painting can soon return to Gdansk to be displayed appropriately. Arthur Brand commented on the painting's future, stating, "We hope the painting will soon be returned to Gdansk, to be exhibited, in a museum, where it belongs.”
This remarkable case of art recovery highlights the intertwining of history, intrigue, and the enduring value of cultural artifacts. Not merely recovering art but restoring national pride, the return of Brueghel's painting constitutes both justice and triumph for art lovers everywhere.