Milton Esterow, Pioneering Arts Journalist Who Exposed Nazi Looting, Dies at 97

Milton Esterow, a renowned arts journalist, has passed away at the age of 97. Throughout his illustrious career, Esterow made significant contributions to journalism, particularly in the field of arts and culture. He was instrumental in exposing the Nazi looting of art during World War II and its aftermath, shedding light on a dark chapter in history.

Key Takeaways:

• Milton Esterow's investigative reporting at The New York Times and ARTnews led to a deeper understanding of the Nazi looting of art during World War II and its aftermath.
• Esterow's tenure at The Times saw him cover high-profile stories, including the looting of treasured artwork by the Nazis, which inspired his book "The Emperor's Old Clothes" (1966).
• At ARTnews, Esterow introduced a new format, including the Top 200 Collectors list, which explored the reasons behind art collecting. He also continued his investigative work, uncovering details on the Nazi looting of art.
• Esterow's reporting led to Austria's government acknowledging its deficient handling of the return of art objects to their rightful owners and heirs. Although initially skeptical, the government eventually returned over 8,000 artworks and objects.
• Esterow's dedication to investigative journalism earned him numerous accolades, including a National Magazine Award for general excellence in 1981 and two George Polk awards for cultural reporting.
• Esterow's Jewish heritage may have influenced his interest in the topic, but he was primarily driven by a journalist's desire to break news and bring attention to significant stories.
• Esterow continued to report on the Nazi looting of art even after his retirement, contributing to The Times and engaging in lectures and interviews, including a 2009 talk at the University of Southern California about his experiences.
• He was survived by his two daughters, three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and four step great-grandchildren. His wife, Jacqueline, passed away in May this year.

Statistics:

• Esterow served The New York Times for over 45 years, initially as a copy boy in 1945 and later as a freelancer in the 1990s.
• He spent nearly 20 years at ARTnews, transforming the publication into one of the most widely circulated art magazines.
• Esterow's reporting led to the return of 8,000 artworks and objects taken from Jews by the Nazis, with 77 paintings and 236 other objects returned.
• Esterow founded the Top 200 Collectors list, which appeared annually in ARTnews.
• Esterow contributed over 70 years of his life to journalism, with a notable career spanning multiple decades.

Sources:

• "Milton Esterow, Arts Journalist Who Exposed Nazi Looting, Dies at 97" - The New York Times
• "Milton Esterow: A Legendary Arts Journalist" - ARTnews
• "Milton Esterow Dies at 97; Pioneering Arts Journalist" - ARTnews
• "Milton Esterow: The Man Who Exposed the Nazi Looting of Art" - University of Southern California