Haussmanns' Nazi-Looted Painting

Josh's gaze pierces an old photo, nailing the painting as twin to the Blue Room wall fixture—ripcord yanking his pilot probe into Nazi shadows. C.J. wraps it tenderly, passes to David Haussmann on Christmas Eve; Bernard charts its $400,000 swell from $300 Vichy plunder, routed through Nazi sales, Swiss dealer shadows, Musee d'Orsay vaults, National Gallery glare. Rebecca's eyes soften in reclaimed grasp; Josh barrels past, mysteries colliding.

2 appearances

Purpose

Wall-hung artwork for public and private display

Significance

Bartlet-fueled restitution emblem fractures Josh's trauma tunnel, crowns C.J.'s humanity amid West Wing churn—Holocaust heirloom return spotlights survivor resilience, contrasts holiday veneer with buried fractures.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S2E10 · Noel

Josh's Obsessive Cano Probe Interrupted by Painting Revelation

Instantly recognized by Josh in the photograph as identical to the Blue Room fixture—its shadowed history erupts as narrative ripcord, colliding Josh's pilot fixation with C.J.'s Nazi-loot probe; referenced as visual match igniting her investigative dash, layering trauma mysteries.

Before: Hung statically outside Blue Room, photograph duplicate under C.J.'s scrutiny.

After: Unchanged physically; symbolically activated as dual-mystery nexus.

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S2E10 · Noel

Haussmanns Reclaim Nazi-Looted Painting Amid White House Rituals

Serves as the emotional centerpiece of the restitution ceremony: C.J. presents it as the family's rightful property, Bernard hands the wrapped version to David after detailing its path from Vichy theft through Nazi sale, Musee d'Orsay, National Gallery, to $400,000 valuation, symbolizing historical justice amid holiday redemption.

Before: Wrapped and held by Bernard in C.J.'s office, appraised and ready for handover.

After: Wrapped and possessed by David Haussmann, departing under escort for private family keeping.

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