Provenance patterns: visualising unreliability words in red

In this post, we look at another way of automating the analysis of hundreds of artworks at a time with reusable code. 

"Unreliability" words have been automatically formatted in red. 

The count refers to the number of artworks containing "unreliability" words for the same artist in the dataset.

Selected paintings with "unreliability" words such as "probably", "possibly", "presumably" and "likely".

The analysis and table were produced by Python code run in a Jupyter Notebook on a Mac.

The Notebook will be shared after a few more tests.

How solid is an art provenance text? Analysis of a Degas sculpture at the NGA

"Probably", "possibly", "apparently", "proposes" and "allegedly" in texts for Degas' Dancer Adjusting the Shoulder Strap of Her Bodice, original wax 1880s/1890s, cast 1920/1949 at the NGA

DATASET: Art Provenances AFTER Restitution of Looted Art

Claims for Nazi-looted art or duress sales sometimes result in restitution or settlement agreements which cause the restituted artwork to be sold at auction.

Below are artworks whose provenance, as published by Christie's auction house, mentions a restitution or settlement agreement with the heir of a victim of Nazi persecution.

These provenance texts provide valuable information to art historians and Holocaust researchers, offering insights into the art market networks that dealt in Holocaust-linked artworks between the time they left the possession of the persecuted Jewish collectors and the time they were restituted.

(original source of information: Christie's auction website)

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Dataset:  CSV Download 

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URL: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT9UtnanPSGuAIi63ObN4G4xtK2Ya6_eIzgIAM2ILah-kxKJhHRmvgeFdCnWdKxcEDfHKpQvNJfUNCh/pubhtml?gid=1713651722&single=true

Erasing Jewish owners from provenance: Martha Liebermann

 

Martha Liebermann committed suicide the day before her planned deportation by the #Nazis to the Theresienstadt Ghetto

Her heirs list this portrait of her daughter Käte by her husband Max on Lost Art.

You would not know this from the #NGA's #provenance.https://t.co/5JY2Clrb0b pic.twitter.com/q0xVQLhDkb

— Open Art Data | @openartdata.bsky.social (@OpenLinkArtData) July 9, 2024

Graupe in provenance texts of American museums

The Paul Graupe auction house was a key player in sales of Jewish art collections during the Nazi-era.

In this post, we look at a selection of  88 artworks in American museums that mention "Graupe" in the provenance text.

 Some texts refer to sales prior to 1933. Some texts specify that an artwork was NOT sold at Graupe's. And some texts clearly refer to sales at Graupe's during the Nazi era. Some texts are factual while others contain speculative language.