The Musée d'Orsay has opened a new permanent gallery dedicated to MNR (Musées Nationaux Récupération) works—art looted during the Nazi occupation of France and recovered after World War II. Approximately 225 pieces, held by the museum pending identification of their rightful owners, are now displayed with a scenographic device that asks visitors directly: "To whom do these works belong?" The exhibition highlights the policies of Aryanization and spoliation under the Nazi regime, as well as the role of French institutions in postwar management of these contested artworks.
This initiative matters because it brings urgent provenance questions into the public eye, transforming a long-hidden chapter of art history into an interactive ethical inquiry. By keeping these works in a dedicated space rather than integrating them into the permanent collection, the museum underscores that they are not national property but objects awaiting restitution. The gallery serves as a powerful educational tool, forcing visitors to confront the ongoing legacy of Nazi looting and the moral responsibilities of museums today.