The family blames the Rijksmuseum for not following the procedures correctly. “If the museum and the notary concerned had fulfilled their duty to investigate, as required by international museum rules, they would have been able to observe Oosje’s bad state of mind”, they say. But the Rijksmuseum contradicts that.
Director Taco Dibbits tells NRC that his predecessor has followed all the rules and that the Rijksmuseum has acted in good faith. According to Wim Pijbes, the former museum director, and the civil-law notary, Oosje made “in no way a confused impression” at the time.
“But if the judge decides otherwise, the donor will certainly get the painting back”, according to the Rijksmuseum. “We don’t want to have anything in the house that doesn’t belong here.” In addition to work, Silbermann’s family especially wants an apology from the Rijksmuseum. Legal proceedings will have to provide a definite answer.
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