Polish police in Katowice recovered Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski’s “Children by the Water,” lost during World War II, after an investigation into art trafficking.
Missing Since 1944, Painting Found on Śląsk
Śląsk police recovered Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski’s painting, “Children by the Water,” which disappeared during World War II. The artwork had been registered in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage’s register of lost works.
The painting vanished from a private collection in Warsaw in 1944 and was recently secured during police operations in Katowice.
Investigation Launched Following Operational Findings
The case began with operational findings by Śląsk criminal investigators, supported by the Central Bureau of Cybercrime in Kraków. Authorities determined a Katowice resident may possess the missing Wygrzywalski work.
Artwork Registered as Lost Cultural Property
“The collected information allowed the initiation of proceedings regarding the trafficking of this painting, which had been in the register of lost cultural assets for years. The work was lost in 1944 from the private collection of Leon Babiński in Warsaw,” police stated.
Painting’s History Remains Unclear to Current Possessor
Police identified the location of the painting and secured it in December of last year. The resident stated the painting had been passed down through generations and they were unaware of its history or how it came into their family’s possession.
Collaboration Between Police and Museum Experts
Experts from the Śląsk Museum in Katowice assisted in identifying the painting, creating a detailed condition report, and documenting it photographically. After these procedures, the painting was secured and placed in the custody of the Śląsk Museum.
An art history expert confirmed the recovered work is an original by Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski, with an estimated value of approximately 25,000 zł.
Prosecution Investigates Potential Trafficking
The Katowice-Południe District Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing the investigation into potential trafficking, with no charges filed to date. Investigators will determine how the painting ended up in the Katowice apartment and decide its future.
Ministry of Culture Confirms Recovery
Piotr Jędrzejowski, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, confirmed the recovery of Feliks Wygrzywalski’s “Children by the Water” by Katowice police as part of efforts to combat crimes against monuments.
Ministry’s Ongoing Cooperation with Law Enforcement
“The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage continuously cooperates with national law enforcement agencies in cases concerning cultural assets that may be subject to restitution. Effective searching and recovery of lost works of art is possible thanks to the ministry’s unique national database of works lost during World War II,” the spokesperson added.
About Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski
Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski (1875-1944) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and later at the Académie Julian in Paris. He traveled extensively throughout Italy and Egypt before settling in Lviv in 1908. He was a realist painter known for his use of light and vibrant colors, often depicting human labor, portraits, and landscapes.
