🔗 Share this article

The descendants of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, asserting that a Van Gogh art piece was seized by the Nazis.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the painting, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The legal action states that the institution, which obtained the painting in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was likely stolen property. The descendants are now demanding the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.

In the decades since World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, alleges the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family fled from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were unable to bring the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, the Nazi government designated the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the couple from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a agent assigned by the regime auctioned the artwork on the couple's behalf. However, the money from the sale were placed in a blocked account, which the regime later confiscated.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or not long after, the painting arrived in New York and was bought by a prominent figure, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was transferred through a commercial outlet to the museum, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise established the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a institution in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a surviving nephew of the magnate are identified in the suit. The legal action claims that the family and its affiliates have covered up the artwork's provenance and location from the heirs.

Currently, the foundation continue to hide the manner and time the institution came into ownership of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the Painting from several years; and the truth that the Nazis looted the Painting from the heirs, forced the family into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the money of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants initiated a comparable case in California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also rejected in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit states that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the Met's authority of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the masterpiece had likely been looted by the Nazis.

The Met responded that it is committed to its historical dedication to address issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson remarked: At no time during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the family – in fact, that information did not become known until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – specifically, it was noted that the piece was deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the same type in the collection. Although the museum maintains its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was removed legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any further evidence that is discovered.

BEG's Response

A lawyer acting for the Goulandris Foundation said: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Athens. The attempt to take legal action against the organization and the Goulandris family in the US upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, multiple times. We are certain it will be once more.