Washington Conference

For decades, the Cold War had made the interests of victims subordinate to the confrontation between the Eastern and Western blocks. After the change in Europe's political climate in 1989, it became clear how many material losses had not been covered by post-war compensations.

The looting of artworks was one of these issues. Many nations established research commissions to clarify the question. The search for solutions and the agreement to basic principles took place on an international level. The Washington Conference in 1998 was a milestone that had a lasting effect on the art world.