Watch Portrait Of Wally

Portrait of Wally is a documentary film that narrates an intriguing story of the art world's largest scandals. Directed by Andrew Shea, the film is a gripping account of the questionable ownership of a portrait of a young woman, painted by Austrian artist Egon Schiele in 1912, called "Wally". The opening scene of the film is set in a New York art museum in 2010, where the painting is currently on display. Suddenly, the painting is removed from the wall, and museum officials announce that they have received an order from the Austrian government to return the painting to its rightful owner. The film then goes on to explore the history of the painting, the controversy surrounding its ownership, and the legal battle that ensued.

The film provides a historical context to the painting, tracing its origin to the early 20th century Vienna, where Egon Schiele was a prominent figure in the expressionist art movement. Schiele had a short but prolific career, producing several controversial and sexually explicit works that attracted both praise and controversy. "Wally" was one of his most famous paintings, and it depicted a young woman who was Schiele's muse and lover. The film notes that the painting was also a representation of the changing times in Vienna, where women were beginning to demand greater rights and autonomy.

The film then introduces us to Lea Bondi, a Jewish art dealer who had purchased the painting in 1954. Bondi was forced to flee Austria during the Nazi occupation, and the painting was confiscated by the Gestapo. After the war, she discovered that the painting was in the possession of the Austrian government and began a decades-long legal battle to recover it. Bondi eventually sold the painting to the Leopold Museum in Vienna in 1954, where it would remain until its loan to the New York art museum, leading to the events at the beginning of the film.

The film delves into the various legal and ethical issues surrounding the painting's ownership, including the question of whether the Leopold Museum knew that the painting was stolen from Bondi. The film notes that the museum's founder, Rudolph Leopold, had a questionable track record when it came to acquiring art, and that there were other works in his collection that had similarly murky histories. The film also explores the role of the Austrian government in the case, as well as the efforts of various art experts and activists to pressure the museum into returning the painting to Bondi's heirs.

One of the most unique aspects of the film is the way it weaves together interviews with key players in the case with archival footage and documents. The film includes interviews with Bondi's descendants, museum officials, art experts, and lawyers involved in the case, as well as news footage and historical documents that help to paint a full picture of the events. This approach gives the film a sense of urgency and immediacy, as well as an almost detective-like quality as the various players try to unravel the mystery of the painting's ownership.

Overall, Portrait of Wally is a fascinating and thought-provoking film about one of the art world's biggest scandals. Through its detailed exploration of the legal and ethical issues surrounding the painting's ownership, as well as its focus on the personal stories of those involved, the film sheds light on a complex and often convoluted aspect of the art world. Even for those who are not art aficionados, Portrait of Wally is a compelling and engaging film that raises important questions about the value of art, the role of museums and governments in preserving cultural heritage, and the responsibilities of collectors and dealers in ensuring that artworks are acquired ethically and transparently.

Portrait Of Wally is a 2012 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 70.