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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, asserting that a Van Gogh canvas was stolen by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

According to the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich just before the Second World War.

The complaint states that the museum, which purchased the painting in the 1950s for $125,000, should have known it was probably looted property. The heirs are now requesting the repatriation of the artwork along with financial restitution.

Following WWII, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns fled from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities declared the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and forbade the couple from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the regime disposed of the piece on the family's behalf. However, the money from the auction were placed in a frozen account, which the authorities later took.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or not long after, the painting was brought to the United States and was acquired by a prominent figure, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was sold through a art dealer to the museum, which then sold it to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair set up the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a institution in Athens where the masterpiece is currently exhibited.

Legal Arguments

The institution and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action claims that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the heirs.

Currently, the foundation continue to obscure the manner and time the BEG came into control of the piece; the family's possession of the artwork from several years; and the reality that the Nazis stole the artwork from the family, coerced the couple into selling it via a trustee, and took the proceeds of the deal.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants submitted a related lawsuit in the state of California in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the artwork had almost certainly been stolen by the Nazis.

The Met said in a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to address claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson remarked: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any evidence that it had once belonged to the heirs – indeed, that knowledge did not become available until several decades after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for deaccessioning – specifically, it was recorded that the artwork was judged to be of inferior standard than other works of the similar kind in the collection. Even though the institution respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any new information that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

Legal counsel representing BEG commented: BEG is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The action to take legal action against the Foundation and the Goulandris family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be again.