Jacques Goudstikker (1897-1940) joined the family art business in 1919, the gallery having been established by his grandfather Jacob in the middle of the previous century. In the following two decades, Jacques’ vision led the gallery to a central position in the art market for Old Master paintings, both in Amsterdam and internationally. His commercial and curatorial leadership, as seen in his ambitious catalogue designs and his themed exhibitions, influenced major collectors like Daniel G. van Beuningen or Heinrich Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza and he worked to enhance museum collections at the Mauritshuis, The Hague, the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna and the Metropolitan Museum, New York, to name a few.

Known as an avid arts enthusiast, Jacques enjoyed a diverse and artistic network of friends and clients. In 1937, he married the Viennese singer, Desirée (Desi) von Halban Kurz (1912-1996), and their only child, Eduard (Edo), was born in 1939. But Jacques’ personal and professional success came to an abrupt stop in May 1940. A few days after the German occupation of The Netherlands, Jacques, who was Jewish, fled with his family, boarding one of the last available ships to safety. His life was cut tragically short during their escape to England when he died as a result of a fall onboard.

Research into the Goudstikker collection and gallery inventory left behind in The Netherlands – an estimated 1,400 artworks taken over by Alois Miedl and Hermann Göring – has been a two-decade long commitment by his heir to Jacques’ legacy and at the forefront of present-day restitution efforts.

This depiction of A boy reading by an artist from the Studio of Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn was restituted to the heir of Jacques Goudstikker in 2021.