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C.F. Yetmen | The Value of Art and the Monuments Men (and women)
January 31, 2014
George Clooney's film "The Monuments Men" tells the story of an unlikely
"Band of Brothers"– art historians, artists, architects–who raced
against time to save Europe's art from destruction during World War II. But when
peace was declared, the Monuments Men's work had just begun. On August 20 1945, a shipment arrived at the Monuments Men Wiesbaden Collecting
Point that was possibly the most valuable single shipment of art in history.
Fifty-seven fully loaded trucks, accompanied by tanks, arrived one-by-one on the
bumpy road from Frankfurt. Hundreds of pieces of priceless art and cultural
objects were unloaded, catalogued, and stored. A browse through the Monuments
Men property cards blandly identifies this amazing shipment as Inshipment One.
It included paintings by old masters, sculptures, tapestries, and most famously,
the centuries-old bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. Now that the war was at an end, the Monuments Men were faced with the enormous
task of not only safeguarding, but also restituting, the art that was now under
their control. The contrast between the war-ravaged landscape outside the walls
of the Collecting Point and the treasures stacked floor-to-ceiling inside, was
striking. Outside, there was very little food, shelter or security. Inside were
many of the greatest cultural treasures of western civilization. One of the things that most interested me about this duality was what it looked
like from the perspective of the average German civilian. In 1945, millions of
ordinary German people–women, children, old, young, men and
women–were faced with the horrifying truth of the evil the Nazis had
wrought. In light of that reality, saving a bunch of art could easily have been
declared irrelevant. But it wasn't. To the average German, the work of the Monuments Men must have seemed either
unfathomably noble or unnecessarily frivolous. In fact, many Germans believed
the Monuments Men were in actuality hoarding the art in preparation for shipment
back to America. Eventually just such pressure did come from political leaders
stateside, who saw a huge opportunity to enrich America's art museums. It was
the Monuments Men who stood firm against this tide and pledged to return these
"spoils of war" to their pre-war owners. It was an unprecedented stand in the
history of warfare. Today the bust of Nefertiti is back in Berlin's rebuilt Neues Museum, exactly
where she was in 1939, before the Nazis packed her up and sent her underground
for safekeeping. Thousands of other pieces of art have been returned to their
pre-war homes. Many others are still floating around, either lost or hidden, or
the victims of greedy and opportunistic collectors and governments, who took
advantage of the post-war confusion to stake dubious claims on priceless works.
But thanks to the Monuments Men, the vast majority of Europe's cultural
patrimony was saved and returned, even against the backdrop of the most horrible
human suffering imaginable. To me, this is a profoundly humane and compassionate
act of preservation and recognition of the human spirit. Art outlives us all, no
matter who we are. To paraphrase a character in George Clooney's Monuments
Men movie, if you destroy our art, it's as if we never existed. What is the true value of art to you? Do you think it is worth saving, even against all odds? One commenter will receive a signed paperback of THE ROSES UNDERNEATH C.F. Yetmen is a
writer and consultant specializing in architecture and design. She is co-author
of The Owner's Dilemma: Driving Success and Innovation in the Design and
Construction Industry and a former publisher of Texas Architect magazine. THE ROSES UNDERNEATH is her
first novel. Visit www.cfyetmen.com.
Comments
34 comments posted.
Re: C.F. Yetmen | The Value of Art and the Monuments Men (and women)
Hi there,C F Yetmen.How are you? To answer your first question,the value
of true art to me is "everything." I am someone who never throws anything
away,unless,I absolutely have to. So,to answer your second question,I
most certainly do believe,art is worth saving at all costs!
You certainly have quite the resume,with all the wonderful things,you are
involved in!
Congratulations,on your first novel,"THE ROSES UNDERNEATH."
"What a great title!"
(Elizabeth Calligan 2:22am January 31, 2014)
sounds like an exciting read....art is different to every person..true art transcends time..and it is worth saving but not against the loss of life of those you love...so everything has a price..and sometimes the price is too much.
(Mal Kaplan 6:54am January 31, 2014)
This is your first novel? Well it certainly appears to be a book that includes so much that anyone would want to read. I would enjoy the opportunity to read the book and thank you for the opportunity to win a copy. Good luck going forward.
(C Culp 7:05am January 31, 2014)
I'm in awe of talented artisan's work. Luckily, I've been able to visit a few Art museums. Art is subjective. What I like may not necessarily be loved by you and vice versa. However, I enjoy seeing these treasures. I'm glad someone took the time and effort to save and record these works.
Art- value is PRICELESS
I do believe that art is worth saving. It's a record of the world's cultural history.
(Laurie Gommermann 7:27am January 31, 2014)
I certainly believe art is worth saving, it is a part of history and throughout the years so much of it has been lost, which is such a shame.
(Jean Patton 7:28am January 31, 2014)
The true value of art is the insight it gives you to the
culture and the past.
Art is always worth saving, it's a tangible link to the past
and can tell us more about ourselves than most other things.
(Robyn Roberts 8:17am January 31, 2014)
Art is our history and should always be preserved.
(Pam Howell 8:56am January 31, 2014)
I'd love to read this book...thanks for the great giveaway!!
(Bonnie Capuano 9:20am January 31, 2014)
Art should be worth savings for the history they preserve.Your book sounds very interesting. Thanks for a chance to win.
(Linda Hall 9:42am January 31, 2014)
art is always worth saving. It shows the progression of humanity in our personal expressions of what we find of value.
(Carolyn Overholser 10:06am January 31, 2014)
Art is a worthwhile and meaningful endeavor. Your book sounds
fascinating and captivating. Thanks for your post.
(Sharon Berger 10:13am January 31, 2014)
Looking forward to this book. Thanks.
(Marguerite Beal 10:26am January 31, 2014)
This sounds like a great book. I love art for it's story of
our past.
(Mary Hay 10:49am January 31, 2014)
I believe that art is very important, and not enough emphasis is being put on it - especially when it comes to our children. They should be made aware of the work of the Masters, because it brings the past to life, and quite possibly could awaken the future artist in a child or even an adult that sees it. I haven't been able to see any of this artwork myself, but would love to have the chance. I have been fortunate, however, to be friends with Artists who have some degree of notoriety, and know what goes into making a painting, and getting out into the public with your work. We have to keep the work alive - be it a painting, sculpture, or whatever medium the work falls into. There are so many categories!! I would love to read your book, since you seem to be an art lover as well. Congratulations on your book!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:56am January 31, 2014)
Art is priceless! What an exciting
book!
(Dominique Booth 11:16am January 31, 2014)
unlimited art,yes
(Kent Cook 12:29pm January 31, 2014)
When my kids were little, we were members of the Kimble Art Museum in Ft Worth, Texas. They have excellent exhibits! We saw the Barnes Exhibit which is an exhibit of impressionists' paintings that were collected back when France was overflowing with wonderful artists. It was so terrific to see all those paintings at one place and at one time. We also saw an exhibit of Renoir's portraits which was facinating. I love fine art. I have great respect for the Monuments Men. I have heard for years about the struggle to get those art treasures to their original owners. I recently purchased a book about the Monuments Men, and I look forward to seeing the movie. I think art is the BEST of what who we are as human beings. Now I have to read your book, too!
(Sandy Fielder 1:09pm January 31, 2014)
Art to me is something I really enjoy looking at. I believe it is in eye of the beholder. There are so many kinds of art to enjoy today.
(Barbara Wells 1:10pm January 31, 2014)
Art comes in many forms other than paintings and sculpture. I believe art is priceless, but not to me. I could not see keeping something I do not understand and frankly some art is beyond me. Everyone is different and that is what makes things work. Against all odds, I would say I would save myself and family before an object, regardless of its value.
(Lin Berda 1:54pm January 31, 2014)
Good Luck to everyone and,I hope whom so ever wins enjoys her
prize with lots of love and happiness.
(Therese Abdali 2:46pm January 31, 2014)
I believe that great art is a representation of history - I think it would be very sad to have it lost. We can learn what people thought and felt at a time long ago from what represents the art people of that time admired.
(Annette Naish 4:04pm January 31, 2014)
I learned alot about art from my art historian daughter. Your book sounds fantastic. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
(Lisa Grant 4:15pm January 31, 2014)
I'm reminded of a librarian in Basra who at great risk to herself smuggled 30,000 books from the library into her home and others, so that Hussein could not destroy them. Art is no less precious than books. It is evidence of our humanity and should be protected at all costs.
(Allison Moyer 5:19pm January 31, 2014)
A drawing from my 5 year old grand daughter is priceless to me!
(Denise Austin 6:17pm January 31, 2014)
Wow, Congrats on your first novel: THE ROSES UNDERNEATH. I
love the book cover and book title too! Yes, I believe that
Art is Priceless and should be saved for our future
generations at all costs. Then everyone can admire and enjoy
the beauty of the past, present and future too! I would love
to win and read your new book in the New Year 2014. Thank
You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 8:37pm January 31, 2014)
Congratulations on your first novel. I'm looking forward to reading it. Art is definitely worth saving. It represents the past in a tangible way. Art is a part of history that we should strive to save and preserve.
(Amy Kincade 9:55pm January 31, 2014)
It's painful to think of all the art that was destroyed when
Mao Tse Tung was in charge because it did not fit in with
his beliefs.
Congratulations on your release!
(Mary C 10:06pm January 31, 2014)
Yes. Great works of art are nearly priceless and should be
saved if at all possible. Unfortunately, if there were a
global catastrophe, a cache of food-producing seeds and/or
viable animal DNA would have to take precedence even over da
Vinci's masterpieces. If those who were expected to
appreciate great art starved to death, the effort would be
futile. Of course, the concept of great arts and letters
would be retained and passed on to future descendants of
those who survive.
(Irene Menge 10:16pm January 31, 2014)
Art is our history and should always be preserved. Congrats on your first novel: THE ROSES UNDERNEATH. I
love the book cover and book title too! Your book sounds fantastic. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
(Shirley Sego 10:55pm January 31, 2014)
I believe art to be very valuable -- and I don't mean monetary valuable, though much certainly is. No, art is valuable because it is what makes us people, what gives us beauty. God created the world and the beauty thereof, and he created us, but within us He gave the ability to create other kind of beauty. Some of that is the art - in whatever, and in many, forms.
{It is 11:43 pm CST here, Jan 31, 2014}
(Donna Durnell 12:42pm February 1, 2014)
It is a real pleasure for me to be in a museum looking at art made through hundreds of years so it is definitely important to save it.
(Maureen Emmons 6:10pm February 1, 2014)
Arts is worth saving. When I was in Italy, there was a bridge built by the Romans. When the Nazi Germans were losing WWII, they blew up the bridge. It would have been a site to see. That priceless architecture is forever gone. Arts reflect the era and heritage of people and culture of that time period.
(Kai Wong 12:49pm February 2, 2014)
I think that art must be preserved. It's not just the value,
but the talent, the joy.
(Mary Preston 6:11pm February 2, 2014)
I believe art defines us as human beings, not only our humanity but our vision of the future as well as our take on everyday life. I have been fortunate to visit many museums and churches in Europe and seen some of this recovered artwork. I dragged my daughter through them and now she has a Master's Degree in Art History. While I weep for the lost and destroyed works, I rejoice in the recovered and restored pieces that I am proud to say the Monuments Men gave back to the world. War usually destroys everything - luckily these brave people gave them back to the world.
(Suzanne Walker 11:23am February 6, 2014)
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