Polish police recovered a painting by Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski, missing since 1944, in Katowice after a decades-long search.
Artist and Painting Background
Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski, a prominent Polish painter of the interwar period, died in 1944. He was known for his orientalist and marine paintings, depicting fishermen, beach scenes, and coastal views.
Many of his works, including “Children by the Water,” were lost during World War II. “Children by the Water” disappeared in 1944 from the private collection of Leon Babiński in Warsaw and was officially registered as a war loss by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
The Investigation
Silesian police, aided by the Central Bureau of Cybercrime in Krakow, investigated a Katowice apartment suspected of harboring the missing Wygrzywalski painting. The investigation led to proceedings regarding the painting’s handling.
Discovery and Ownership
The apartment’s owner stated the painting had been passed down through generations, with no knowledge of its original disappearance or how it came into the family’s possession.
Authentication and Security
Experts from the Silesian Museum in Katowice identified the painting, documented its condition, and secured it for safekeeping at the museum. An art history expert confirmed the painting’s authenticity.
Separate Incident: Warsaw Care Home Concerns
Residents and staff at the “Kombatant” Social Welfare Home in Warsaw have raised concerns about staffing shortages, a negative atmosphere, and the director’s management style. A report from an inspection confirmed some of these allegations.
Painting’s Value and Ongoing Investigation
The recovered painting is valued at approximately 25,000 Polish złoty. No charges have been filed, and the investigation, overseen by the Katowice-Południe District Prosecutor’s Office, aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the painting’s recovery.