TVREAL
PBS has lined up its newest Secrets of the Dead documentary, the two-part Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief.
In the decade leading up to 1945, it is estimated that the Nazis stole one-fifth of all artwork in Europe, the majority from Jewish families and other “undesirables.” The new series reveals the secret networks of curators and dealers who made fortunes off the backs of this Nazi-looted art.
Historian Jonathan Petropoulos, the John V. Croul Professor of European history at Claremont McKenna College, investigates the life of former Nazi art dealer Bruno Lohse, the “Plunderer.” Petropoulos conducted multiple interviews with Lohse over the course of nearly 20 years until Lohse’s death in 2007.
To further uncover the extent of the operation, Petropoulos also spoke with gallery owners, curators, art investigators, Lohse’s closest friends and descendants of victims of Nazi Art theft.
Ultimately, Plunderer unveils the dark underbelly of the international art world, much of it built upon wartime tragedy.
Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief is directed by Hugo Macgregor and produced by John S. Friedman, Hugo Macgregor and David M. Milch. It is based on Petropoulos’ book Göring’s Man in Paris. It is produced by Living Memory Productions in association with The WNET Group, as well as in association with the Dr. David M. Milch Foundation, ARTE, Bayerischer Rundfunk and Taglicht Studios. Secrets of the Dead is a production of The WNET Group.
The doc series’ episodes will premiere on February 19 and February 26 on PBS and the PBS app.
“Nazi art looting was the greatest art scandal of the 20th century,” Petropoulos said. “I had no idea the shocking discoveries this investigation would uncover, nor the tangled mess I was getting myself into.”
“While some of the reveals are thrilling, it’s important to remember that most of the looted art has never been recovered, and most of those involved have suffered no consequences,” noted producer John S. Friedman. “My hope is that this documentary will spark an interest in helping these families regain their lost pieces, which, for them, mean more than just the art’s monetary value–it also represents a link to their past.”
