'Joodsche gevallen' in de Nederlandse Kultuurkamer : Rijksaankopen bij joodse en joods-vermaagschapte kunstenaars

Gepubliceerd op 24-11-2008

Fransje Kuyvenhoven

From April 1st, 1942 Dutch artists were faced with a choice: either they signed op membership of the Nederlandse Kultuurkamer (NKK, Chamber of Culture) or they would be subject to punitive measures. The conditions for membership were carefully defined in the statutes of the NKK: “Jewish persons or those with Jewish in-laws cannot become members”.

Samenvatting:
It was the blood leaning that counted: a Jewish partner meant a rejection, a “half-jewish” partner meant acceptance, that is dispensation. Until October 1943 the policy with regard to the persecution of the Jews was absoluteluy clear, and was characterized by rigidity and ruthlessness. When it came to the acquisition of art by Jewish artists, the national government in no way departed from that policy. In the case of artists with Jewish relatives, however, the anti-Semitic regulations were interpreted differently. The policy of the NKK was more strict than the Government which bought some work (8) from artists (6) who had not been issued a dispensation.