The heirs of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a the Dutch artist canvas was seized by the Nazis.
Historical Background
As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the piece, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. A year after, they were forced to flee their home in Munich prior to WWII.
The legal action states that the Met, which purchased the painting in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, should have known it was almost certainly stolen property. The descendants are now demanding the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.
Following WWII, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, states the legal filing.
Family's Flight
The Sterns fled from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their offspring 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.
Before the family's emigration, the regime designated the artwork as property of the state and banned the couple from taking it abroad. Once approved from a regime representative, a trustee appointed by the authorities auctioned the artwork on the family's behalf. But, the money from the auction were held in a frozen account, which the regime later confiscated.
Post-War History
In 1948, or shortly after, the painting entered the United States and was acquired by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.
The Greek couple established the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently shown.
Legal Arguments
The institution and a family member of the magnate are named as defendants. The filing alleges that the family and its related entities have covered up the masterpiece's history and location from the family.
Even now, the defendants continue to conceal the manner and time the foundation came into ownership of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the regime looted the canvas from the heirs, forced the couple into selling it via a regime representative, and confiscated the money of the deal.
Prior Cases
The Stern heirs submitted a comparable case in the state of California in 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also denied in spring 2025.
Institution's Statement
The lawsuit states that the museum's acquisition of the piece was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had likely been stolen by the Nazis.
The museum said in a statement that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to resolve claims from the Nazi period.
An official stated: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – in fact, that knowledge did not become accessible 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 – namely, it was noted that the piece was considered to be of lower caliber than other works of the comparable nature in the collection. Even though the institution upholds its stance that this work entered the inventory and was sold lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the Met is open to and will review any new information that is discovered.
BEG's Response
William Charron representing BEG stated: The institution is a renowned institution in Athens. The attempt to litigate and defame the institution and the defendants in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be again.
