A centuries-old painting with a dark history has resurfaced, landing the daughter of a Nazi officer in hot water.
Patricia Kadgien, also known by her middle name Monica, was recently charged with hiding a painting her father stole during the Holocaust.
The artwork, long sought after by authorities and heirs of its original owner, has reignited international attention.
House Arrest in Mar del Plata
Kadgien has been under house arrest since earlier this week in her seaside home in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
She and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, face charges of aggravated concealment of property, stemming from the possession of Portrait of a Lady, a 1743 painting by Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi.
A Dark Family Legacy
Patricia’s father, Friedrich Kadgien, was a close aide to Hermann Goering, one of the highest-ranking figures in Nazi Germany.
After World War II, he fled to South America, bringing stolen artworks and valuables with him.
Prosecutor Carlos Martinez stressed the gravity of the case, saying it involves crimes tied to genocide and a systematic Nazi plan to seize art and jewelry from Jewish families.
The Painting’s Long Journey
Authorities raided Kadgien’s home last week, only to find a tapestry in place of the missing painting.
On Tuesday, the 65-year-old heiress admitted she had been hiding the portrait all along.
Portrait of a Lady once belonged to Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker and is listed on the official Dutch registry of valuables looted by the Nazis.
Its recovery has sparked a global investigation.
Legal Battle Over Ownership
Kadgien tried to claim legal ownership of the painting, asking a civil court to recognize her as the heir.
However, the case has been moved to federal courts after the civil judge recused herself.
While she and her husband refused to testify during the hearing, authorities confiscated their passports and prohibited them from leaving the country.
Investigators are also examining other valuables in their home, leaving the door open for additional charges.
The Painting in Plain Sight
For years, speculation about the painting’s location followed Kadgien.
Dutch journalists attempted to contact her and her sister Alicia Marie Kadgien, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Interestingly, a reporter discovered the original painting in a real estate listing while Kadgien’s daughter was trying to sell a property, sparking headlines worldwide.
The listing has since been removed.
Mar del Plata’s Nazi Connection
Mar del Plata is known as a haven for former Nazis who settled there after WWII.
Friedrich Kadgien is buried in the town’s German cemetery, a reminder of the family’s dark past.
During the war, he helped fund the Third Reich by looting art and diamonds from Jewish dealers in the Netherlands before fleeing to Brazil and eventually Argentina, where he died in 1979.
The Goudstikker Legacy
Portrait of a Lady is just one of around 800 artworks once owned by Jacques Goudstikker that were seized or purchased under duress by the Nazis.
While over 200 pieces were recovered in the early 2000s, many, like this painting, remain missing.
Goudstikker himself died at sea attempting to escape to Britain, having previously helped other Jews flee the Nazis.
His collection and a little black book documenting it survived through his family, eventually reaching his son Edo in the United States.
Heirs Seek Justice
Marei von Saher, a family heir, is determined to reclaim the stolen artwork.
At 81, she told Dutch media that her mission to recover her father-in-law’s collection began in the late 1990s and is far from over.
“My family aims to bring back every single artwork robbed from Jacques’ collection and restore his legacy,” she said, emphasizing that the battle for justice is still ongoing.
What Happens Next?
The case raises questions about restitution, justice, and the legacy of Nazi-looted art decades after the war.
As federal courts in Argentina review ownership, the international spotlight remains firmly on Kadgien and the recovery of one of Europe’s most notorious stolen treasures.