It is thought that 100,000 paintings disappeared in France during the Second World War. 60,000 were given back in 1945, but only 45,000 of those were returned to their owners.
Hotel Paris
"Paysage, le mur rose", Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Paris, Centre Georges-Pompidou. ©Jacqueline Hyde/CNAC/MNAM

Out of the remaining 15,000, 13,000 were sold by the state between 1950 and 1953, leaving 2,000 that - after a long period of being half forgotten - are now part of a search to find their rightful owners.
Hotel Paris
"Ruines à Grandcamp", Georges Seurat (1859–1891), Paris, Musée d'Orsay. © Photo Rmn – René-Gabriel Ojéda

Apparently there are now only around 200 for which the owners have not been identified. The exhibition attempts to explain the "Mission Mattéoli" to find them and explains how the paintings came to be taken.
Hotel Paris
"Les Baigneuses", Gustave Courbet (1819-1877), Paris, Musée d'Orsay. © Photo Rmn – Hervé Lewandowski

Some paintings, such as Monet's Neige au soleil couchant were only given back to France as late as 1994. The detective work continues...
Hotel Paris
"Neige au soleil couchant", Claude Monet (1840-1926), Rouen, Musée des beaux-arts. © Photo Rmn – René-Gabriel Ojéda

Here's all the essential information for the "Looking for owners" exhibition at the Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme in Paris

When: 25th June - 26th October 2008
Where: Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme, Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, 71 rue du Temple, Paris 3rd arrondissement. Métro Rambuteau (line 11), bus n°s 29, 38, 47 & 75
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 11am - 6pm, Sundays 10am - 6pm. Last ticket at 5.15pm. Late night opening Wednesdays until 9pm (last ticket 8.15pm)
Entrance fee: Adults 5.50 euros, concessions 4 euros, free for under-18s, the unemployed...
More information: on the official site here


Bigger map here
Hotel Paris