France returns confiscated paintings

French authorities returned 15 paintings to the Czech Republic on Thursday which had been confiscated last year from two Czech smugglers at the French-German border. The contraband included works by Czech modernists František Kupka, Toyen and Jindřich Štýrský. The smugglers, who are now held in custody in Prague, have not been able to explain the origin of the works of art.

Author: Jan Richter