Walter Farmer at the Museum: The Courage to Challenge Conventional Wisdom

On the 250th Anniversary of American Independence—Viewed from a European Perspective

Walter Farmer (links) und ein Unbekannter im Central Collecting Point, Wiesbaden

This evening honors Walter Farmer (1911–1997), a U.S. Army lieutenant who, in late 1945, opposed the United States’ attempt to seize 200 masterpieces from Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie and two paintings from the Nationalgalerie. Farmer demanded that these works, which had been taken to Washington, be returned to the German people.
The 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence provides an opportunity to highlight just how much today’s Gemäldegalerie still owes to a man who stood up against decisions he considered unjust.
An event organized by the Gemäldegalerie and the Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Art History and Historical Urban Studies

PROGRAM
Lecture Hall, Kulturforum
5:00 p.m.IntroductionDagmar Hirschfelder, Berlin State Museums, Gemäldegalerie
5:10 p.m.Walter Farmer, the American Who Said NoNeville Rowley, Berlin State Museums, Gemäldegalerie
5:35 p.m.Introduction to the panel discussionBénédicte Savoy, Technical University of Berlin
5:40 p.m.“Received with misgivings”: Reactions in America to the Berlin PaintingsAlexandra Germer, Princeton University / Technical University of Berlin
6:00 p.m.Albrecht Dürer in Buenos Aires? A German-American Debate on the Sale of Museum ArtifactsIñigo Salto Santamaria, University of Zurich
6:20PMLost and Found (1945–2011): The Rediscovered Horney MadonnaFlorian Schmitt, Technical University of Berlin
6:40 p.m.Discussion with the audience

7:00 p.m.Reception
7:30Guided tour with the speakers



Meeting point: Kulturforum Lecture Hall,Admission is free and participation is free of charge.Limited number of participants. Registration recommended.

REGISTERTranslated with DeepL

Meeting point: Vortragssaal Kulturforum

Price info: 0 €

Price: €0.00

Booking: booking/prior registration recommended

Next date:

• Date Thursday, 02/July/2026 17:00 bis 21:00
• Venue Kulturforum
• Address Matthäikirchplatz, 10785 Berlin-Tiergarten