From the provenance research into the period 1933-1945, indications have emerged that suggest possible involuntary loss of ownership.
It is not known when, how or under what circumstances the art dealer Schönemann, Amsterdam, acquired this painting. It is also unknown which of the Schönemann brothers is referred to here. Schönemann sold the painting in August 1940 to the Dienststelle Mühlmann in The Hague, through Dr Eduard Plietzsch. The Dienststelle Mühlmann then sold the work to Hermann Göring, after which it was found in Germany after the war. It is known that during the occupation years, the Dienststelle Mühlmann made large-scale purchases from Jewish owners and from art dealers who had been placed under administration or expropriation. Although there is no direct evidence that this specific object originated from Jewish property, the circumstances of the trade and the persons involved give reason to believe that the work may have been lost involuntarily.
