Kherson Art Museum has identified 96 works stolen by Russian occupiers

The Kherson Art Museum has identified 96 artworks Russian forces stole during the occupation of the southern city of Kherson.

The museum announced the findings on Facebook, Rubryka reports.

"We continue identifying stolen artworks. We're revisiting footage taken for a [Russian] propaganda video in September 2023 at the Tavrida Central Museum [in occupied Crimea]. It's worth reminding that this Crimean institution houses artworks stolen from Kherson," the announcement reads. "In the video, we recognized two more unlawfully taken artworks, bringing the total identified artworks to 96."

Specifically, the staff of the Kherson Museum identified a work by Jaroslav Procházka (1886-1949) titled "View from the Slope to Prague."

Procházka, a Czech painter and member of the Prague Society of Artists, is known for his mastery of landscapes, particularly urban scenes. He captured the unique atmosphere of city corners and alleyways, which were influenced by the impressionist movement, but also incorporated elements of romanticism into his works.

Procházka exhibited his paintings in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the Czech Republic and Europe, including Paris, Oslo, and Copenhagen. In 1931, he was awarded the annual prize of the Prague Academy of Arts for a series of paintings depicting European cities.

Another work identified is "Green Day" by Ivan Starenkov (1955-2010). This Khersonian non-conformist artist was known for his unconventional approach to painting, seeking new themes and avoiding realistic interpretations, which brought a fresh perspective to the region's art scene.

"Green Day" is not the only painting by Starenkov stolen by the Russians, but it is the second one definitively located in Crimea, at the Tavrida Central Museum. In the same footage, his painting "Terziya" was also identified earlier.

Earlier, Rubryka reported that the Kherson Art Museum had identified 80 artworks stolen by Russian occupiers.