Egon Schiele's watercolor, Boy in a Sailor Suit, will be auctioned at Christie's next month with an estimated value of $1.3 million. The painting belonged to Fritz Grunbaum, a cabaret performer who was a vocal opponent of Nazis before being imprisoned and killed in a concentration camp. His heirs have been working to reclaim his art collection, successfully recovering several works. A separate dispute exists over another Schiele piece currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago, where legal proceedings are underway regarding its ownership and alleged looting by Nazi officials.
The 1914 portrait, with a low estimate of $1.3 million, is among about 80 works by Austrian Expressionist artist Egon Schiele that cabaret performer Fritz Grunbaum possessed.
After decades of working to trace and reclaim his collection, his heirs have recovered or reached settlements on several Schiele works on paper in recent years.
The Art Institute of Chicago argues that a Schiele watercolor once owned by Grunbaum was not looted and remained in the family until its sale in 1956.
A New York Supreme Court judge, after hearings on the dispute, is expected to issue a ruling on the case in the coming weeks.
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