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 not known which of the Schönemann brothers is referred to here. Schönemann sold the painting in August 1940 to Dienststelle Mühlmann in The Hague, via Dr Eduard Plietzsch. Dienststelle Mühlmann then sold the work on to Hermann Göring. This organisation is known to have purchased looted Jewish property during the occupation, for example from the Liro or from Jewish art dealers who had been placed under administration or expropriated. However, it is currently impossible to determine whether this object originated from there; there are no concrete leads for further investigation.
