Introduction

Cornelius Gurlitt's father had been an art dealer during the early days of the Second World War. He was one of only four dealers who had Nazi permission to sell what they considered to be degenerate art. As tens of thousands of pieces were stolen from museums and private collections all across Europe, many of them landed into his hands. These are pieces that have been hidden away for nearly 80 years, considered lost by many art historians. They include work by Picasso, Monet, and Renoir, among many others.