The liquidation of Galerie Alfred Flechtheim GmbH and its consequences. Basic research into the trade in artworks confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution by Galerie Alex Vömel, Düsseldorf, and Galerie Buchholz, Berlin

Alex Vömel began working at Galerie Alfred Flechtheim in Düsseldorf in 1922 and became the manager of Galerie Alfred Flechtheim GmbH in 1927. In March 1933, he founded Galerie Alex Vömel in Düsseldorf, which exists to this day. Karl Buchholz, a trained bookseller, established a gallery in 1934 and made Curt Valentin—who had worked for Alfred Flechtheim in Berlin until 1933—its director until the end of 1936. Galerie Buchholz existed until 1955.
The project focused on basic research into the art trade in the National Socialist era, using Galerie Buchholz and Galerie Vömel as examples. Dr. Gesa Jeuthe (Vömel) and Dr. Anja Tiedemann (Buchholz) were responsible for the research. The holdings of around 4,000 masterpieces and the network of the two art galleries between 1933 and 1945 were under investigation. These were considered in relation to the framework conditions of the Nazi art trade.

© Kunstgeschichtliches Seminar der Universität Hamburg