# Fischer heirs dispute planned sale of Van Gogh painting in New York

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/sothebys-auction-of-180m-van-gogh-challenged-over-claims-it-was-sold-under-duress/
- Published: 2026-11-14T18:00:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T21:19:33+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmwy05gg75lvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Entertainment, World

## Key points

- A Van Gogh estimated at $180m is due to be auctioned in New York.
- Fischer family heirs say it may have been sold under Nazi-era duress.
- Sotheby’s says it is discussing the painting’s history with the family.

## Summary

Sotheby’s is trying to resolve a dispute over the planned sale of Vincent van Gogh’s *Châtaigniers en fleurs*, estimated at $180m (£136m), at auction in New York on Wednesday. Heirs of the Fischer family say the painting may have been sold under duress as the Nazis rose to power, raising questions about whether the sale should proceed before its ownership history is settled.

The painting, whose title means *Blossoming Chestnut Trees*, is part of the Blaquier-Arrieta Collection. Sotheby’s records say German publisher Samuel Fischer acquired it in 1909; after his death in 1934, it remained with his family before being deposited with Paul Cassirer in Amsterdam and passing to Henriette and Marcel Kapferer in Paris in 1936. The heirs’ lawyer reportedly says losses suffered by the family’s publishing company under the Nazis led to the sale. Sotheby’s says its research has not established that it was sold under duress, but it is in dialogue with the family.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.