The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Art Spy with Michelle Young
Jul 17, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Michelle Young, author of *The Art Spy*, sheds light on Rose Valland, a courageous art curator who defied the Nazis to save priceless masterpieces. Young explores Valland's daring infiltration of enemy lines and her fierce dedication to protecting cultural heritage amidst war. Listeners learn about the complexities of art preservation during World War II, the struggles faced by women in this field, and the dramatic rescues of stolen artworks. Valland's legacy is a testament to the power of art in the fight for freedom.
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Rose's Secret Art Spy Role
- Rose Valland, a French art historian, secretly worked inside a Nazi-occupied museum in Paris.
- She passed information to the resistance to stop a train full of looted art from leaving France.
Rose's Tough Personality and Struggles
- Rose Valland was a blunt, honest, and socially outcast academic in the Paris art world.
- Her difference and avant-garde interests made getting museum jobs difficult.
Why Art Was Evacuated Pre-War
- Art curators first made lists to prioritize moving valuable works out of Paris before war broke out.
- They feared destruction from bombing, not theft, as the main danger to art.