Theft and no Restitution:
The portrait of Walther Silberstein by Lovis Corinth (1923)
A Symposium with Musical Contributions on the Occasion of the Donation of the Painting and in Honor of Leo Hepner (in German)
On the occasion of the donation of the Portrait Walther Silberstein by Lovis Corinth (1923) and in honor of Leo Hepner, Silberstein's grandson, the Jewish Museum Berlin (JMB) invites you to a symposium with musical contributions. Two panels are dedicated to the painter Lovis Corinth and his Jewish network between the Hansaviertel and the Secession, as well as to the question of what we know about the looting and why the restitution of the painting failed several times.
Tue 6 May 2025, 2.30 pm
Where
W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)
Walther Silberstein and Lovis Corinth lived as neighbors and friends in Berlin’s Klopstockstraße. Corinth painted a portrait of the gentlemen’s outfitter, who returned the favor with a fine suit. After Walther Silberstein’s death, the painting initially remained in the possession of his widow, who was deported to Riga in 1942. The Berlin collector Conrad Doebbeke acquired it before the end of the war, but later concealed this fact. In the 1960s, the family made an unsuccessful attempt to recover the painting. At the turn of the millennium, it was up for sale again. Leo Hepner, Silberstein’s grandson, finally bought the painting back. In fulfillment of his last wishes, the JMB received it as a gift.
The musical contributions by Gary Hoffmann (cello), Tabea Zimmermann (viola) and Lucas Fels (cello) are linked to the stages of Leo Hepner's life and are a contribution by the Hepner Foundation.
Lovis Corinth: Portrait Walther Silberstein (1871–1930), Berlin, 1923, oil on canvas; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2024/51, gift of Regina Hepner
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Lovis Corinth: Portrait Walther Silberstein (1871–1930), Berlin, 1923, oil on canvas; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2024/51, gift of Regina Hepner
Program
| 2 pm | Admission and registration |
|---|---|
| 2.30 pm | Welcome, thanks and the donor's perspective JMB Director Hetty Berg Donor Regina Hepner |
| 3 pm | Gary Hoffmann, cello J.S. Bach [1685-1750]: Suite fuer Cello solo Nr. 3, C-Dur, BWV 1009 Prélude – Sarabande – Gigue |
| 3.15 pm | The Jewish Corinth Das Gemälde und seine Geschichte: Inka Bertz (Curator for Art, JMB) Lovis Corinth und sein jüdisches Netzwerk: Dr. Janina Nentwig (Research associate in the Fine Arts Collection, Berlinische Galerie - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Berlin) Das Hansaviertel als jüdische Lebenswelt: Prof. Dr. Joachim Schloer (Emeritus Professor for modern Jewish/non-Jewish relations, University of Southampton) |
| 4.5 pm | Coffee break (15-30 min) |
| 4.45 pm | Tabea Zimmermann, viola Paul Hindemith [1895-1963]: Sonate fuer Bratsche solo op 25 No 1, 1923, Breit.Viertel – Sehr frisch und straff (Viertel) – Sehr langsam – Rasendes Zeitmass. Wild. Tonschönheit ist Nebensache – Langsam, mit viel Ausdruck |
| 5 pm | Theft and no Restitution Provenienzforschung und Restitution am JMB: Elisabeth Weber (Provenance Researcher, JMB) Conrad Doebbeke und seine Raub-Sammlung: Stefan Koldehoff (Art market expert, non-fiction author, chief culture reporter for Deutschlandradio stations) Restitution im historischen und politischen Kontext: PD Dr. Benno Nietzel (Deputy Professor of German History in the 20th Century with a focus on National Socialism, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) |
| 6 pm | Lucas Fels, cello Helmut Lachenmann [1935]: Pression für Cello solo, 1969/2010 |
| 6.30 pm | Reception |
| 8 pm | End |
