Cornelius Gurlitt was a German art dealer born in 1932, known for his controversial collection of artworks. He inherited a vast trove of paintings and drawings from his father, Hilmar Gurlitt, who was an art dealer during the Nazi regime. Many of these works were looted or acquired under dubious circumstances during World War II. In 2012, Gurlitt's collection came to public attention when authorities discovered it during a tax investigation. The collection included pieces by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Following his death in 2014, discussions about the rightful ownership of the artworks intensified, highlighting issues of art restitution.