Art and Law at the Kunsthaus Zurich: Special Tour and Discussion
September 4, 2025
This Center for Art Law event took place at the Kunsthaus Zürich, one of Switzerland’s leading art museums, vested with history and culture. Guided tours of the exhibition “A Future for the Past: The Bührle Collection: art, context, war and conflict” offered background on the collector, and the legal complexities surrounding the works.
The Bührle Collection is one of Europe’s most significant private art holdings, known for its extraordinary selection of masterpieces. Assembled by German-Swiss industrialist Emil Bührle, it includes major works by Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Picasso. The collection has been the subject of debate due to the complex provenance of some works and the collector’s controversial role in the Second World War. Its display at the Kunsthaus prompted conversation about art, law, memory, and historical responsibility.
Tours were followed by a panel discussion with invited speakers, including experts in art history and museum ethics. The discussion was centered around how the museum is reframing the collection’s complex legal and cultural history, while preserving the artworks’ reputation.
