Michelle Young – The Art Spy

In the second part of our podcast about the movie ‘The Train’ Brent talks with Michelle Young about the art curator featured in the movie – Rose Valland.

Michelle is the author of a forthcoming book from Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins, about the World War 2 Resistance spy.  The book will be issued in May 2025 and will be called ‘The Art Spy’.

Michelle is the founder of ‘Untapped New York’ and the author of a number of books about the city.  She’s professor of architecture at Columbia University GSAPP and an instructor at CUNY School of Journalism.    

• (1:05) How Michelle got interested in Rose Valland and World War 2;
• (2:00) Why is Rose still so little known;
• (4:15) How accurate is the movie ‘The Train’?
• (6:15) Why did the Nazi’s want all those art treasures?
• (8:15) Why ‘degenerate’ art?
• (9:25) How did the Nazi’s use art?
• (10:10) The ERR;
• (11:55) The Jeu de Paume – Goring’s private gallery?
• (12:30) Why Rose decided to save art;
• (13:25) How did Rose spy on the Germans?
• (14:40) How many works did Rose document?
• (15:40) Rose’s interrogation by the Germans;
• (16:55) Rose suspected by French partisans;
• (18:15) The German plans for Rose;
• (18:55) The last art train to Germany. How did Rose and the resistance stop the train from leaving Paris?
• (20:50) Rose – a monuments woman?
• (22:00) The Nuremberg Trials;
• (22:20) Rose’s awards and decorations;
• (24:30) Rose’s view of ‘The Train’ adaptation.

Links mentioned in this episode:

michelleyoungwriter.com

Leave some feedback:

What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review.

Connect with us:

godsstorypodcast@gmail.com

godsstorypodcast.com

Become a Supporter:

If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.

patreon.com/godsstorypodcast

Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.