In a story that feels straight out of a spy novel, Dutch police have cracked the case of a Pieter Brueghel the Younger masterpiece that vanished from Poland in 1974. 🕵️♂️✨
The painting, Woman Carrying the Embers, also known as Woman Moving A Bonfire, disappeared from the National Museum in Gdansk half a century ago, sparking rumors of secret service involvement and mysterious disappearances.
Fast forward to today, and the elusive artwork has been found and is now securely housed in a museum in the Dutch province of Limburg. Richard Bronswijk from the Dutch police's arts crime unit confirmed, "We are 100 percent sure that it's the same painting that disappeared from the National Museum in Gdansk back in 1974." 🖼️🔒
Polish authorities have also verified the recovery, stating, "We are in constant contact with Dutch authorities, including the Dutch police, regarding the case." This marks the end of a 50-year-long mystery!
Arthur Brand, the Dutch art detective, revealed that the breakthrough came when journalists from the Dutch magazine Vind spotted the painting at an exhibition last year. 🤯📸 The painting was loaned to the Gouda Museum from a private collection and was billed as "not being seen for the past 40 years."
It was a keen eye and some detective work by Vind contributor John Brozius that led to the discovery. Brozius stumbled upon an old Polish article with a black-and-white picture that matched the loaned Brueghel. "It looked pretty similar to the Brueghel on display in Gouda," Brand explained.
The painting itself is a fascinating piece, depicting a peasant woman holding tongs with smoldering embers in one hand and a cauldron of water in the other. 🧑🌾🔥💧 It’s believed to reference an old Dutch proverb: "Never believe a person who carries water in one hand and fire in the other," a warning against duplicity.
This incredible recovery not only brings closure to a decades-old art mystery but also highlights the crucial role of art detectives and persistent journalism in solving art crimes. Kudos to everyone involved! 👏🔍
Reference(s):
Police and art sleuth crack case of Brueghel stolen in Poland in 1974
cgtn.com
