Metropolitan Museum Confronts Lawsuit Over Supposedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Masterpiece

The heirs of a Jewish couple have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, alleging that a the Dutch artist canvas was looted by the Nazis.

Origins of the Dispute

According to the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were obliged to escape their residence in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the Met, which purchased the artwork in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was almost certainly confiscated property. The heirs are now demanding the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.

Since the end of World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern fled from Munich to America in 1936 with their large family due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before they left, the Nazi government designated the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the Sterns from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a trustee assigned by the regime sold the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. But, the money from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the regime later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

By 1948, or shortly after, the artwork arrived in the United States and was purchased by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a museum in the Greek capital where the painting is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a family member of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing claims that the family and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and location from the family.

To this day, the foundation continue to obscure the manner and time the BEG came into possession of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Third Reich confiscated the artwork from the Stern family, pressured the family into disposing of it via a trustee, and seized the funds of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants submitted a similar complaint in the state of California in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An appeal was also dismissed in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit contends that the Met's purchase of the painting was authorized by a curator, the institution's specialist of European paintings and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had almost certainly been stolen by the regime.

The Met responded that it prioritizes its historical dedication to handle Nazi-era claims.

An official remarked: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – indeed, that information did not become available until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for deaccessioning – namely, it was noted that the artwork was judged to be of inferior standard than additional artworks of the same type in the collection. Even though the museum upholds its stance that this work entered the holdings and was removed legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum invites and will examine any new information that is discovered.

BEG's Response

William Charron representing BEG commented: The institution is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The action to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, twice. We are certain it will be a third time.