ArtDependence | Stolen Brueghel Painting resurfaces in Gouda, Netherlands, after more than 50 Years

Monday, March 3, 2025

A painting stolen in 1974 from the National Museum in Gdańsk, Poland, has been found in a museum in Gouda, Netherlands. Museum Gouda and art detective Arthur Brand confirmed the discovery as reported by De Telegraaf.

The small painting, dating back to the 17th century, is by Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel the Younger, son of Pieter Brueghel the Elder. The painting depicts a peasant woman holding a bucket of water in one hand and glowing embers in the other, illustrating an old proverb about distrust.

The painting arrived in Gdańsk in 1944. While its exact history remains uncertain, Brand does not believe it qualifies as looted art. "You can never be entirely sure, but it was not officially listed as missing at the time," he says. Determining its value is difficult, as some Brueghel works sell for millions, but this is a relatively small piece. However, it is on Poland’s list of most-wanted stolen artworks.

How Polish officials originally discovered the theft is almost as remarkable as the painting’s recent recovery. A museum cleaner accidentally knocked the painting off the wall, revealing that the artwork had been replaced with a cut-out image of the painting instead of the original.

Brand was tipped off about the stolen painting through Vind Magazine, a publication focused on art and antiques. A journalist writing about the Gouda exhibition noticed that the artwork closely resembled a painting stolen in Poland in 1974. Brand knew Brueghel had created six versions of this work and needed to verify whether it was indeed the missing piece.

The Polish museum provided archival documents, allowing Brand to confirm with absolute certainty that this was the stolen artwork. Museum Gouda had unknowingly borrowed the painting for an exhibition, and it had not appeared on any consulted lists of stolen art.

How the painting ended up in the Netherlands remains a mystery. The current Dutch owners inherited it and were unaware of its past. The museum insists it acted in good faith by exhibiting the work.

Brand believes it is likely that the painting will return to Poland. “Ultimately, it is Polish cultural heritage stolen from their national museum.” The Dutch police are investigating the case and have placed the painting in custody while communicating with Polish authorities. Poland has filed a legal request for its return.

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Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.

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