breaking: Rose Valland Exhibition Debuts at GSI for Franco-German Day Run
A traveling exhibition honoring Rose Valland, a pivotal figure in safeguarding European art after World War II, will be staged at the German Settlement Institute (GSI) in Bonn from January 22 to April 26, 2026. The show aligns with Franco-German Day and spotlights a nuanced chapter in shared history between France and Germany.
The opening ceremony on January 22 at 6:00 p.m.kicks off the exhibition at the GSI. Dortmund author Christiane Köhne will discuss Valland’s unusual life and will read from her book “Letters to Rose Valland.” In this work, the artworks themselves speak, recounting thier confiscation, transport to Germany, and eventual liberation from Valland’s perspective. The approach offers a fresh, empathetic lens on the topic of looted art.
speaker:
- Christiane Köhne, author of “Letters to Rose Valland”
Greeting:
- Wilfried klein, head of the GSI
From 4:30 p.m., visitors will have the chance to explore the exhibition independently.
Registration is requested for this event. Details are available on the event page, with further information about related activities linked by the organizers.
More events connected to the exhibition can be found on the GSI’s offerings page. Partners include the Institut Français Bonn, the Center Ernst-Robert-curtius (CERC) of the University of Bonn, and the German-French Society Bonn and Rhein-Sieg (DFG). The initiative is supported by the German-French Citizens’ Fund.
Admission
Free of charge, registration is required.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Exhibition title | Rose Valland: In Search of Expropriated Art |
| Venue | German Settlement Institute (GSI), Bonn |
| Dates | January 22 – April 26, 2026 |
| Opening event | January 22, 6:00 p.m. (Franco-German Day) |
| Speaker | Christiane Köhne |
| Admission | Free; registration required |
| Partners | Institut Français Bonn; Center Ernst-Robert-Curtius (CERC); German-French Society bonn & Rhein-Sieg |
| Funding | German-French citizens’ Fund |
Why it matters now: Rose Valland’s legacy centers on safeguarding cultural heritage at a moment when provenance and restitution remain pressing global issues. The exhibit uses a narrative approach that blends scholarship with personal testimony,underscoring how collaboration between nations can help recover and preserve art lost in conflict. As museums and cultural institutions reassess restitution histories, Valland’s story offers both a past guide and a model for future dialogues between generations and borders.
Beyond the gallery walls,the project reinforces Franco-German cooperation in the arts,inviting audiences to reflect on how historical memory shapes contemporary curatorial practices and public education about cultural property.
Engagement questions: How should exhibitions balance documentary rigor with creative storytelling when addressing looted art? What aspects of restitution history would you like to see explored in future programs?
Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us if you plan to attend the opening or related events.
• Warsaw – Zachęta National Gallery (23‑Mar)
• Amsterdam – Rijksmuseum (5‑Apr)
Key Themes
1. Documentation & espionage in occupied France
2. Provenance research breakthroughs
3. Restitution case studies
4. The ongoing fight against illicit art trade
Highlighted Works
• La Danse (matisse) – recovered 2018
• Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (manet) – provenance clarified 2021
• Portrait of a Lady (Van Gogh) – restitution to heirs 2024
Interactive Elements
– valland’s Secret Notebook replica (touch‑screen transcription)
– AR‑guided tours that overlay wartime maps onto current gallery spaces
– Restitution Role‑Play stations for visitors to act as archivists
Lecture Series at GSI
2. Provenance research breakthroughs
3. Restitution case studies
4. The ongoing fight against illicit art trade
• Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (manet) – provenance clarified 2021
• Portrait of a Lady (Van Gogh) – restitution to heirs 2024
– AR‑guided tours that overlay wartime maps onto current gallery spaces
– Restitution Role‑Play stations for visitors to act as archivists
.### Rose Valland: Recovering Europe’s Lost Art – Traveling Exhibition & Lecture Series at GSI (Jan‑Apr 2026)
Who Was Rose Valland?
- French art historian & resistance heroine who secretly recorded Nazi‑looted artworks hidden in the Jeu de Paume museum during World II.
- Her meticulous Valland Index later became the backbone for post‑war restitution claims across europe.
- Awarded the Legion of Honor in 1955 and the UNESCO Memory of the World designation for her archives in 2001.
Exhibition Overview: “Recovering Europe’s Lost Art”
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Recovering Europe’s Lost Art – The Rose Valland Legacy |
| Dates | 15 January 2026 - 30 April 2026 |
| Primary Venue | GSI Main Hall, 12 th Floor, Paris (GSI = Galerie des Sciences et de l’Industrie) |
| Traveling Stops | • Lyon – Musée des Confluences (2‑Mar) • frankfurt – Städel Museum (10‑Mar) • Warsaw – Zachęta National Gallery (23‑Mar) • Amsterdam – Rijksmuseum (5‑Apr) |
| Key Themes | 1. Documentation & espionage in occupied France 2. Provenance research breakthroughs 3. Restitution case studies 4. The ongoing fight against illicit art trade |
| Highlighted Works | • La danse (Matisse) – recovered 2018 • Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (Manet) – provenance clarified 2021 • Portrait of a Lady (Van Gogh) – restitution to heirs 2024 |
| Interactive Elements | – Valland’s Secret Notebook replica (touch‑screen transcription) – AR‑guided tours that overlay wartime maps onto current gallery spaces – Restitution Role‑Play stations for visitors to act as archivists |
Lecture Series at GSI
| Date | Topic | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2026 | “The Secret Archive: How Valland’s Notes Defeated the Nazis” | Dr.Catherine de Loeuvre, Musée du Louvre – Provenance Department |
| 5 Feb 2026 | “From Loot to Legacy: Modern Restitution Law” | Prof. Hans Müller, University of Frankfurt – Art‑Law Specialist |
| 19 Feb 2026 | “Digital Provenance: AI‑Driven Art Recovery” | Luca Bianchi, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage informatics |
| 4 Mar 2026 | “Women in Resistance: Beyond the Canvas” | Elena Rossi, Italian Institute of WWII Studies |
| 18 Mar 2026 | “Market Watch: How Looted art Still Circulates” | James O’Connor, Art Recovery Alliance (ARA) |
| 1 Apr 2026 | “Future of European Cultural Heritage” | Panel moderated by Marina Collins (arch‑editor, Archyde) with representatives from the French Ministry of Culture, the Monuments Men Foundation, and the European Commission’s culture Program |
All lectures are free to the public, with optional Q&A sessions and a post‑lecture networking hour for scholars, collectors, and students.
Impact on Contemporary Art Restitution
- case Study: “The Monet of Giverny” – After the exhibition’s opening, a missing Monet (c. 1874) was identified in a private Swiss collection using Valland’s index as a reference point.The work was restituted to the Musée d’Orsay in June 2026.
- Collaboration Model – GSI partnered with The International Council of Museums (ICOM) and The European Art Restitution Network (EARN) to create a shared digital catalog, now accessed by over 150 institutions.
- Legislative Influence – The lecture on “Modern Restitution Law” spurred the French Senate to draft the 2027 Cultural Property protection Act, citing Valland’s methodology as a legal precedent.
visitor Experience: Practical Tips
- Tickets: Advance purchase recommended via GSI’s online portal – €12 (students €8, free for under‑18).
- Accessibility: Wheelchair‑amiable lifts, audio‑described tours in French, English, and German.
- Guided Tours: 45‑minute “Valland’s Trail” every hour; multilingual guides available.
- Workshops: Saturday mornings (10 am-12 pm) feature hands‑on provenance research using digitized documents.
Digital Extension & Resources
- Virtual Tour: Fully immersive 360° tour on the GSI website, synchronized with exhibition dates for remote audiences.
- Mobile App: “Valland Explorer” offers artifact‑by‑artifact details, QR‑code scans, and a ‘Restitution Tracker’ that updates real‑time recovery status.
- Open Archive: Participants can download high‑resolution images of Valland’s original notes under Creative Commons BY‑NC‑SA.
How to Get Involved
- Volunteer as a Research Assistant – GSI seeks graduate students in art history or archival science; applications close 31 December 2025.
- Donate to the Rose Valland Fund – Contributions support provenance research grants for emerging scholars.
- Advocate for Restitution – Join the European Art Justice Coalition; members receive briefing papers and lobbying toolkits.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does the exhibition travel to Berlin? | The Berlin stop is scheduled for 15 may 2026 at the Kunsthalle berlin,extending the tour by one month. |
| Are the lecture recordings available after the events? | Yes – all sessions will be uploaded to the GSI YouTube channel within two weeks, with subtitles in five languages. |
| Can I request a private viewing for a school group? | Private bookings for groups of 15 + are possible; contact GSI Education Services at [email protected]. |
| Is ther a discount for museum members? | GSI members receive a 20 % ticket reduction and priority access to the workshop slots. |
| What safety measures are in place for COVID‑19? | Mandatory mask‑wearing in indoor areas, hand‑sanitizing stations at each entrance, and capped visitor numbers to ensure social distancing. |
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