The Ethics of Stolen Art

Exploring The Case for Restitution Among Museum Collections

Abstract

Museums function as centers of cultural and historical documentation throughout society, and oftentimes showcase artifacts everywhere from ancient civilizations to modern art. However, the origins of many artifacts in the possession from large museums were often at the hands of colonial conquest, raising significant ethical questions about their rightful ownership. This paper investigates the role of colonial powers in the displacement of cultural artifacts, focusing on specific cases such as the Benin Bronzes, and overall analyzing sources ranging from historical perspectives to public opinion. Key findings emphasize the importance of repatriation of misplaced artifacts in cases of forced removal, while also noting the need for museums to provide accurate historical context for all artifacts in order to ensure a balanced global narrative in museum curation.