Art dealer Dik Jr.
During the war, the name Jan Dik Jr. often crops up in the art trade. This painting restorer was trained by his father. Both father and son worked for Goudstikker art dealers in 1940. They were also involved in Alois Miedl's take-over of the business. Both worked as buyers for Miedl for some time, but Dik Jr. decided to carry on independently in 1941. His business boomed, in a string of different partnerships with dealers and money lenders. He had few scruples about the provenance of the paintings he bought and sold. According to accusations made after the war, he directly put Jewish owners under pressure to sell him art works for low prices. Dik was to be arrested in 1947 but managed to escape to Switzerland. Any provenance which points to the involvement of Dik Jr. is a warning to the researcher that the work may have formerly belonged to Jewish owners. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to verify who he obtained the artworks from.
